Brian Windhorst 'Feels Good' About Celtics Maintaining Jaylen Brown, Rockets Trade Target

ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes the Celtics will sign Jaylen Brown to a max contract, which would make him unavailable for the Houston Rockets as a trade target.

HOUSTON — The Boston Celtics have a lot at stake entering Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals Monday night. They can become the first team in league history to come back from a 0-3 deficit while advancing to their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

But a win against the Miami Heat inside TD Garden could also prevent the Celtics from breaking up their All-Star duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

Rumors have linked Brown to several teams as he enters the final year of his contract, but none more so than the Houston Rockets. 

The Rockets have the assets and draft capital to match the on-court value of Brown. And with nearly $60 million in cap space, Houston has the money to sign the two-time All-Star to a max contract. 

Rumors of Brown joining the Rockets grew louder following Houston's decision to hire coach Ime Udoka, who coached the Celtics during the 2021-22 campaign. 

Brown's future in Boston could become more apparent with a win against the Heat. But ESPN's Brian Windhorst "feels really good" about the Celtics' chances to maintain Brown regardless of the Game 7 outcome.

After making an All-NBA Team, Brown is eligible for a five-year $295 million supermax extension from Boston this off-season.

Windhorst believes the Celtics will sign their All-Star forward around the $290 million mark. He feels confident in the Celtics keeping Brown due to teams trying each year to find a "pairing like Brown and Tatum."

The Celtics have qualified for the playoffs each season since Brown and Tatum became teammates in 2017. And with the exception of 2021, the Celtics have advanced each year.

Brown averaged a career-best 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 67 games during the 2022-23 season. He scored a season-high 43 points in a 111-109 defeat to the Rockets on March 13.

Windhorst feels confident in Brown remaining with the Celtics, while Kendrick Perkins believes a Game 7 defeat would mark the end of Boston's All-Star pairing. 

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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