Rockets Trade Target: Jaylen Brown, Celtics Enters Off-Season Full Of Uncertainty
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HOUSTON — Jaylen Brown had his worst performance of the postseason. And after a 103-84 Game 7 defeat to the Miami Heat Monday night, Brown and the Boston Celtics will enter an off-season of uncertainty.
He scored 19 points on 8-for-23 shooting, 1-of-9 from deep, amid a game-high eight turnovers. Jayson Tatum sustained an ankle injury at the start of the game, which hampered his performance and heightened Brown's struggles inside TD Garden.
The Celtics' elimination ended their hopes for banner No. 18 after battling back from a 0-3 deficit. But more importantly, the loss marks the start of several questions surrounding Brown's future in Boston.
"I expected to win today and move on [to the NBA Finals]," Brown said. "That is what my focus has been on. We failed. I failed. And it is hard to think of anything else right now. We will cross that bridge when we get there."
Brown is eligible for a five-year $295 million supermax extension after making an All-NBA Team. He averaged a career-best 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 67 games during the 2022-23 season.
Signing an extension would prolong the All-Star pairing of Brown and Tatum. Since becoming teammates in 2017, the Celtics have qualified for the post-season in each of the previous five seasons, which has included four trips to the conference finals.
But despite their success, Brown's name has been the subject of trade talks. Even a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals could not halt rumors after Kevin Durant's trade request linked Brown to the Brooklyn Nets last summer.
"It's been a helluva year," Brown said. "Those guys in that locker room are warriors. It has been an honor to share the locker room with those guys. But despite the circumstances we've had, we rose to the occasion."
Several teams will try and make a play for Brown 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.
And following the decision to hire coach Ime Udoka, rumors of Brown joining the Rockets grew louder. Udoka coached Brown and the Celtics for one season before his premature firing in September.
Brown had no words to describe his mindset entering the off-season. But Tatum said remaining teammates with Brown was "extremely important" while expressing his belief in the pairing.
"He is one of the best players in the league," Tatum said. "He plays both ends of the floor. We are still young. He has accomplished so much so far in his career, I think it is extremely important."
ESPN's Brian Windhorst felt confident in Brown remaining with the Celtics before their Game 7 defeat, while Kendrick Perkins believed a loss would mark the end of the pairing.
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