Jaylen Brown's Super-Max Extension Could Be Worth Even More: $304 Million
Negotiations between Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics have paused, but the former Cal standout is still expected to sign a super-max contract extension.
And perhaps for even more than was once believed.
Brown was eligible as of July 1 to receive a contract worth $295 million, but the parties haven’t gotten it done. Now it’s expected to be a bit longer before negotiations are completed.
The delay is not considered an issue. According to the Bottom Globe and other sources, Brown — a vice president in the National Basketball Players Association — is headed overseas for a previously scheduled organizational event.
It’s unclear exactly when Brown will be back in the U.S., but a Globe source stressed Brown is merely honoring a commitment on his calendar.
Whenever talks resume, it will be worth the wait for Brown, who played one season (2015-16) at Cal before becoming the third pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Celtics.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that Brown’s deal actually could be worth as much as $304 million. Even at $295 million, the contract would be the richest in NBA history — at least until next year, when Boston may give Jayson Tatum an even bigger package.
Here’s how Wojnarowski explained it:
“In the final year of that deal, Jaylen Brown would be making almost $70 million. Remember, when you’re negotiating contracts, it isn’t just, ‘Hey, are we going to give him the full amount? Is he going to get the max number?’ There are trade kickers, potentially, that could be in the deal, player option years in a deal, and payment structure.
“So, there are a number of things that go beyond the max, the supermax, that Jaylen Brown is eligible for.”
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe wrote that the money is not the final hurdle, but that the stumbling block is “likely related to incentive structure” or a clause like a fifth-year player option.
Brown is coming off his seventh — and best — season. He averaged a career-high 26.6 points, the most-ever by a former Cal player. But he also struggled in the NBA Eastern Conference finals against Miami, averaging 19.0 points on just 41.8-percent field-goal accuracy, including 7 for 43 on 3-point attempts.
Celtics president Brad Stevens expressed optimism the deal will be made.
“It’s been all good discussion,” Stevens said. “We want Jaylen to be here for a long, long time and we’ve made that clear. We’re looking forward to all sitting down, and we’ve got time here. I probably shouldn’t say anything else, but I feel optimistic.”
Cover photo by Brian Fluharty, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
