Celtics, Jaylen Brown ‘Moving Closer’ On Contract Extension

The Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown are “moving closer” on a supermax contract extension agreement, according to NBA insider Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Brown and the Celtics are talking about an extension worth roughly $295 million.

“One of the crucial questions floating around summer league has been why Jaylen Brown hasn’t completed his extension yet,” Weiss wrote. “On July 4, The Athletic reported the Celtics and Brown’s camp were expected to pick up talks at summer league. League sources told The Athletic that has gone as expected so far, with the two sides starting to make progress and likely moving closer to an agreement over the coming week.”

Brown is eligible to sign a designated veteran extension with the Celtics because he made an All-NBA team last season. The All-Star has one year left on his current contract. Brown will make $28.5 million next season and hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024 if the Celtics don’t sign him to an extension.

Jayson Tatum told reporters after the Miami Heat won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston that it’s “extremely important” for Brown to be back next season. Tatum and Brown are close friends and teammates.

“It’s extremely important,” Tatum said. “He’s one of the best players in this league. He plays both ends of the ball and still is relatively young. And he’s accomplished a lot so far in his career. So I think it’s extremely important.”

Brown averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 2022-23 for the Celtics while shooting 49.1% from the field, 33.5% from beyond the arc and 76.5% from the free-throw line. He has made two All-Stars teams since getting drafted in 2016.

Boston will look different next season after trading Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards. However, Brown and Tatum, the two best players, will be back.