5 Celtics who are playing for their future in Boston

1. Jaylen Brown

Brown’s massive five-year $286 million extension begins next season, which features a $17.5 million raise in the first season. The Celtics have been a contender since he joined the team, but another failure in 2024 will have the franchise searching for more answers.

Brown is the most likely player of their top six to be traded this summer. They will be hamstrung by the second tax apron and unable to aggregate salaries in deals. Boston will have to take Brown’s massive contract and trade it for another star. It won’t be easy, but fans have heard the rumors for years (subscription required).

Brown has his warts. His inability to use his left hand is well-documented, but he is an elite scorer with a versatile skill set. He helped the Celtics reach the conference finals five times in seven years. It is easy to knock him, but Brown has made Boston a contender again.

Will the Boston Celtics shake up their roster this summer? It depends on how the 2023-24 season wraps up. If the Celtics are hanging banner number 18 at the TD Garden, fans should not expect many changes. It is championship or bust, so stay tuned for what should be an exciting and nerve-wrenching run.