Jaylen Brown is extension-eligible this offseason, and the Boston Celtics should hope he turns down the two-year, $142 million contract he’s eligible to sign. The decision will force Boston to act, and it could be their chance to revamp their current roster.
The Celtics have made the conference finals six times in Brown’s ten NBA seasons. They won the championship in 2024 and reached the NBA Finals in 2022. Boston has been extremely successful in his tenure, but the Cs have won just one playoff series in the last two years. Beyond that, Brown is on a max contract and coming off his best season as a pro. This could be the all-time sell-high moment.
It is difficult to have two max players and a deep roster that can compete with the Thunder and Spurs in this era. Trading Brown could give the Celtics flexibility to build a deep and talented roster around Jayson Tatum. They won’t be replacing Brown, but having multiple players filling that salary could make Boston more dangerous.
Jaylen Brown turning down an extension might help the Celtics
Brown turns 30 in October, and there are rumblings of unhappiness. His mentor, Tracy McGrady, mentioned JB is frustrated in Boston. Brad Stevens denied that claim, and Brown even tried to squash it. Fans know these rumors often have a bit of truth to them, even if it is not immediately going to force action.
The extension would be for the 2029-30 and 2030-31 seasons. He would be 33 and 34 years old during those campaigns. Brown is still likely to be elite, but there would be some worry about paying over $60 million per year to a player in his mid-30s.
Brown just had his best season. He was in the MVP race when Tatum was sidelined to begin the season. Even in the playoffs, JB was the Celtics' leading scorer. Nobody is questioning his greatness. Brown is a five-time All-Star and Finals MVP.
The second apron era has already forced the Celtics to dismantle their title team. They quickly found out that depth and players who fit the scheme are crucial in the playoffs. Boston missed having a floor-spacing big man like Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis. They desperately needed Jrue Holiday’s defense and struggled to score efficiently beyond their two superstars.
Trading Brown could allow the Celtics to rebuild that depth. They could have multiple impact big man and more depth in every area if they split Brown’s $60 million into two or three players. He would net Boston a massive haul, and it could allow Brad Stevens to build another elite team.
The Celtics aren’t trading Jaylen Brown unless he declines a max extension this offseason. If he does, all bets are off. Brown is under contract through 2029. There wouldn’t be pressure to trade him immediately, but the Cs don’t want an unhappy star on their roster. Brown declining the extension may help the franchise in the long run.
The Boston Celtics must figure out how to get back into title contention. It won’t be easy with Tatum and Brown combining to make over $120 million per year. The easiest solution is trading one of them for multiple pieces.
That could be the only choice if Brown refuses an extension. It won’t be popular, but the Cs would be selling high and getting a shot to remake their roster into a deep squad like the one that won the title in 2024. All of that could happen if JB refuses an extension this offseason, so stay tuned.
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