While the Celtics’ focus right now is certainly on the immediate future as they face elimination in the second round of the playoffs, their long-term future may have gotten clearer on Wednesday night.
Jayson Tatum was named to the All-NBA first team for a second consecutive season, and for the first time in his career, Jaylen Brown was selected to an All-NBA team as he was chosen for the second team. The selections solidified the Celtics stars as the best duo in the NBA, and also have massive implications on the franchise’s future.
Brown – who will enter the final year of his four-year, $115 million deal next season – will now have the ability to sign the biggest contract in league history this summer, as his All-NBA selection makes him eligible to receive a five-year, $295 million supermax extension, which is over $100 million more than he could have received for a max extension without an All-NBA nod.
Brown’s selection sets the stage for an interesting summer for the Celtics, especially if they bow out of the playoffs in the second round. Tatum’s All-NBA selection means he will be eligible for a five-year, $318 million supermax extension next summer – which he will almost certainly get – so the Celtics will have to decide whether or not to commit more than $600 million to their star duo.
It seems logical that the Celtics and Brown would come to an agreement on the supermax deal, but there are factors that could complicate matters. If the C’s have an early exit this spring, it’s possible they reevaluate their options and how they view the long-term partnership of Tatum and Brown. The new collective bargaining agreement also includes luxury tax restrictions that will make it more difficult for the Celtics to build around Tatum and Brown.
Brown – who made his second All-Star team this season – has also made comments this season that suggested he’s non-committal about his future in Boston, but he cannot receive the $295 supermax extension from any other team in the league. No player has ever rejected a supermax deal.
Tatum and Brown became the first pair of Celtics teammates to make an All-NBA team in the same season since Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in 2008.