Following a disappointing finish in the playoffs, the future of the Boston Celtics is a bit cloudy. However, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens seems keen on keeping most of the team together, and that includes star Jaylen Brown.
Brown had a disastrous Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, as his eight turnovers sank the offense. The two-time All-Star will be a free agent next season and is already eligible for a massive extension, yet his recent troubles created some doubt about whether or not he'll stay in Boston.
In spite of his postseason struggles, Stevens made it clear that he'd like to bring back Brown if possible. Obviously, he couldn't share the details of the extension talks, but he did seem to hint at them trying to do whatever they can to keep Brown.
When asked about Brown's future during a Thursday presser, Stevens didn't shy away from expressing his trust in him, via Jay King of The Atheltic.
“Without a doubt we want Jaylen to be here,” Stevens said. “He's a big part of us and I believe in him and I'm thankful for him.”
Finding a way for Brown to stay is easier said than done since Brown is eligible for nearly $295 million starting next year. Fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum could have a big payday in his future as well, so figuring out how to pay both guys without significantly impacting the team's financials will be nearly impossible:
Jays potential $ / salary cap (%)
22-23: $60.1M/$123.7M (48.6%)
23-24: $64.4M/$134M (48.0%)
24-25: (JB ext kicks in): $84.9M/$143M (59.3%)
25-26: (JT ext kicks in): $109.1M/$157.3M (69.3%)
26-27: $117.8M/$173M (68.1%)
27-28: $127.3M (No reputable cap proj.)
28-29: $137.5M
— HOOPS EMPIRE (@HoopsEmpire_) May 31, 2023
Money aside, Stevens doesn't sound ready to give up on his squad's franchise players. His history with them goes back a long way and they nearly led the Celtics to the NBA Finals for the second year in a row.
The dynamic duo came up short, but nothing Stevens said makes it sound like he wants to blow it up.
No matter what though, Stevens and the front office have a lot of significant decisions ahead of them this offseason.
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