While Jaylen Brown and the Celtics could have signed a supermax extension weeks ago, the process was more deliberate than some fans would have liked. But, as expected, the C’s and Brown agreed to terms on the richest deal in NBA history as part of a five-year extension that could be worth as much as $304 million.
That’s a lot of money for Brown, who’s coming off a second-team All-NBA season. While Brown has endured criticism after a tough showing in the East Finals against the Heat, he’s still one of the most talented players in the league. The Celtics rewarded those contributions with a lucrative deal that will keep Brown in Boston for the foreseeable future.
There were still some negotiation pieces that had to be worked through, and it appears both sides found common ground in a compromise. The deal is fully guaranteed but Brown didn’t get the player option for his fifth season. However, Brown’s camp did negotiate a trade kicker should the guard be moved later in the deal. So while the money wasn’t going to noticeably change, other details needed to be sifted through.
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The deal took longer than expected, but there was little doubt on the final conclusion for both sides. For Brown, he inks a huge contract that secures him generational wealth; it’s difficult to turn that down. For the Celtics, they lock Brown down long-term and get rid of any chance he leaves in free agency. If no extension was reached this summer, Brown could have left in free agency next offseason for nothing, which is poor asset management.
Now, going into next season, the Celtics have their core locked down. Jayson Tatum is eligible for his own supermax extension next summer, so he’ll be in Boston long-term himself. Newly-acquired big man Kristaps Porzingis is also under contract for three more seasons with the Celtics after his own extension. The Tatum-Brown combo has led to multiple East Finals appearances, but the next step is to win a championship for the duo.
The Celtics are going all-in over the next couple seasons with Brown inked to his extension. Beyond that, some tough decisions will need to be made by the front office. Having Brown, Tatum and Porzingis all on hefty deals will take up a lot of the team’s cap space. And under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, keeping all three expensive players will result in heavy taxes going forward. MassLive’s Brian Robb broke down the Brown financials going forward.
But it’s important to note those are all roadblocks the Celtics will need to address in future seasons. For now, the Celtics should be right back to their title-contending status next season and beyond. If the Celtics are able to hang Banner No. 18 anytime soon, those difficult decisions will sort themselves out. In the meantime, the C’s will hope Brown and Tatum ascend their respective games while the supporting cast steps up.
