Appeasing Jaylen Brown after Giannis trade fell apart should be a priority for the Celtics
If this is the Celtics’ worst-case scenario entering the NBA Draft and free agency in a few weeks, things ain’t so bad.
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Of course, serious and careful discussions will be necessary with Jaylen Brown, unless the front office has decided he needs to leave Boston and is seeking trade partners.
Failing to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in a deal for Brown and draft picks may be Brad Stevens’ biggest blunder as president of basketball operations because of the risk of fracturing a relationship with a player whose number is going to be retired.
Brown may have his faults, but he’s put in 10 productive years with the Celtics and arguably is the best player from the 2016 draft — the only competition for that crown is Jamal Murray. He has helped the franchise win a championship, winning the Eastern Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP in the process.
Keeping Brown and Jayson Tatum together is a fruitful scenario, especially if Stevens upgrades the roster around them. There is no certainty that Brown wants out of Boston and indications are that he doesn’t, but he has been dealt the harsh reality that the franchise that drafted him was ready to send him to Wisconsin.
Stevens said he spoke with Brown on several occasions over the past few weeks and with his agent Jason Glushon over the past few days. He said he was honest with Brown, open about the team’s plans and empathetic about his feelings.
“Jaylen Brown’s a big part of us,” Stevens said. “I’m never going to predict the future. Everything I think about over the past few years is building around those guys [Tatum and Brown]. You never know, but at the same time I think the one thing I want to make clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing, an amazing teammate, a great person to be around and whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires or before, there’s a lot of celebrate.
“But I don’t want to predict the future, but I look at it as this is our team.”
Having been in this business for a decade and a member of the NBA Players Association for nearly that long, Brown understands the league is a business and the grass isn’t always greener when seeking change. Brown’s rather unsettling comments on Twitch have indicated there may be a level of discontent, but that could be as much with the NBA as with the Celtics.
Brown has issues with officiating, flopping rules, and foul baiting. He has issues with how he is viewed in comparison to other players who attack the basket and play with aggression. The question is whether he’ll ever change that perception, even with more team and personal success. He shouldn’t expect much progress on that.
The best thing for Brown to do is improve his weaknesses, ensure he’s a better player than before, and allow the Celtics to decide what to do with his fate. The worst mentality the Celtics could have here is feeling obligated to trade Brown because he was involved in the proposed Antetokounmpo deal and not get a satisfactory return. If teams know Brown is on the block, they won’t exactly offer the best package until they’re forced.
The question for the Celtics is whether they truly plan on winning in 2027. Keeping Brown, signing a point guard, and acquiring a center would probably give them the best chance to compete with the Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs. And remember, Tatum will return healthy and the Celtics have a $27 million trade exception, a mid-level exception, and biannual exception at their disposal.
Stevens was prepared for the possibility of the Antetokounmpo trade falling through, and it’s hard to believe his pivot would be to just deal Brown for the sake of eliminating any contentious feelings. Stevens has had these hard conversations before. His players realize what is done is for the best of the team, and some of these moves aren’t to be taken personally. This is a business.
And if the Celtics choose to extend Brown’s contract — he’s eligible for a two-year, $141.9 million extension in July — that would work greatly to mend any ill feelings or lack of faith Brown has in the organization. That’s a considerable commitment, and one that Stevens could table for the future.
What Stevens has to defend is his decision to chase Antetokounmpo with Brown as the sacrifice. Considering Stevens’ history of positive player relations, his reasoning should at least appease Brown.
As for Brown, changing his perception that he’s been disrespected or overshadowed throughout his career would help. The Celtics made him the highest-paid player in the NBA and, despite some of his shortcomings, he is popular in Boston for his on-court performance and off-court contributions. The marriage hasn’t been perfect, but it has been effective and successful.
So unless Stevens has the master plan to upgrade the roster into championship contention by moving Brown, he shouldn’t unless he’s convinced the relationship is irrevocably damaged. Given the social media post of Brown’s brother Quenton, which was a video of Jaylen and Jayson discussing their bond over the years, the relationship is probably salvageable.
The Celtics did not trade into the lottery to nab one of the premium picks Tuesday, as had been speculated they might if they planned to use Brown in another package. They used their No. 27 pick on Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr., and will start making plans for free agency, which begins June 30.
But there’s work to be done now. Call it damage control, call it reconciliation, but Stevens needs to make a firm decision on Brown and move forward. The Giannis odyssey is over. The Celtics came up empty in their quest, but their championship aspirations for 2027 are just beginning.
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