Boston Celtics
“Of course Milwaukee would see some of the stuff that Jaylen Brown is saying and they would get ready to go and call Boston”
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo gets past Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 104-91. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Tracy McGrady: Jaylen Brown has deep frustration with Celtics organization
Rumors of the Celtics’ interest in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo have been swirling for months, and the Celtics would have to move a significant amount of salary in order to make it happen.
This week, Jaylen Brown drew headlines when he aired out some issues he had with the way the Celtics first-round loss to Philadelphia went down. Then, Tracy McGrady said that he’s been hearing Brown has some deep frustrations with the Celtics’ organization.
If Brown is unhappy in Boston after signing a supermax contract extension with the team in 2023, then it might make sense for the Celtics to trade him, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a recent appearance on “Get Up!”
Brown is under contract through 2029, but he becomes eligible for another contract extension this summer.
“From a Boston standpoint, this is very simple,” Windhorst said. “In July, Jaylen Brown has the opportunity to sign a contract extension with the Celtics. If he’s happy with the Celtics, it’s a huge one. It could be $70 million per year. He’s just coming off his best season, you’re going to offer it. If he’s happy with the Celtics, sign. See you in September. If he’s not happy with the Celtics and he says ‘I don’t want to be here’ trade [him].”
Brown would be 32 at the end of his current contract. He said this season was his favorite of his decade-long run with the Celtics. He won a title with Boston in 2024 and was named Finals MVP.
He spent most of this season playing without Jayson Tatum, who missed several months while recovering from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. The Celtics overachieved during Tatum’s absence, winning 56 games and securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference while Brown played himself into the MVP discussion.
“Brown is younger, healthier, and plays a style that won a championship,” Windhorst said. “I think if you’re Boston, you’re like ‘I’m holding on to Jaylen Brown’, but if he doesn’t want to be here and he’s going to go complain on media for the next year then he can address it when he doesn’t sign the extension and you can go deal with it.”
Antetokounmpo has not ruled out returning to the Bucks, but has also reportedly shown some interest in a fresh start elsewhere. Landing a player of Brown’s caliber could be enticing for Milwaukee, Windhorst said.
“This is extraordinarily simple. Of course Milwaukee would see some of the stuff that Jaylen Brown is saying and they would get ready to go and call Boston,” said Windhorst.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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