The Boston Celtics figure to endure a gap year next season. Jayson Tatum is rehabbing a torn Achilles, and the franchise is working toward roster-building flexibility. However, that creates an opportunity for players to take on more responsibility.
That includes Jaylen Brown. ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst is bullish on what next season holds for the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
"You're going to see Jaylen Brown -- I expect a huge year from Jaylen Brown," voiced Windhorst on The Hoop Collective podcast. "I will advise my friends who ask me about fantasy stuff to prioritize getting Jaylen Brown this year."
The Marietta, Georgia, native turns 29 in October. He underwent surgery for a partially torn meniscus in his right knee this offseason. It's a matter that this author spoke about with Dr. Kevin Stone.
Dr. Stone is an orthopedic surgeon at The Stone Clinic. He is a leader in meniscus transplants and repairs. Dr. Stone is a pioneer in advanced orthopedic surgical and rehabilitation techniques that repair, regenerate, and replace damaged cartilage and ligaments.
"It's probably the right decision for someone at that stage of their career," conveyed Dr. Stone. "Being pretty aggressive about saving the critical tissues in your knee permits you to play forever, as I like to say."
How will Jaylen Brown look as Celtics' unquestioned top option?
The nine-year veteran finally gets his chance to fulfill that role. Ideally, it would have come with a greater opportunity to compete for a championship. However, it's still an experience that he, his partnership with Jayson Tatum as franchise cornerstones, and the Celtics can benefit from.
"I suspect that Jaylen Brown, assuming his knee is ok, is going to have a massive season, and I think he's going to carry them to a bunch of wins," said Windhorst. "I think he's going to see it as an opportunity to show everybody what he can do."
If Brown embraces his role next season like he did in Game 5 against the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs, it should help elevate him and the Celtics.
The six-foot-six wing produced 26 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in a win that added to his local legacy. He played a selfless brand of basketball, routinely creating quality scoring chances for his teammates.
His two-way impact also included suffocating defense on Jalen Brunson, often pressuring him in the backcourt. Brunson finished with 22 points on 41.2 percent shooting. He fouled out in the third quarter.
Brown continuing to evolve as a player and grow as a leader is a prime example of how the Celtics can maximize the upcoming campaign. It's a development that could make their championship-winning duo an even more lethal tandem, provided they share the floor again.