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Boston Herald
Boston Herald
13 Jul 2023
Steve Hewitt


NextImg:Jaylen Brown’s contract extension with Celtics still not done, but Brad Stevens remains ‘optimistic’

Jaylen Brown became eligible for a five-year supermax extension with the Celtics as midnight struck on July 1. But nearly two weeks have passed since and a deal hasn’t been completed yet.

There’s no reason to be alarmed, though, as an agreement is widely expected to get done this summer. The Celtics have had other more pressing, time-sensitive items to check off their offseason to-do list, like free agency and the Grant Williams sign-and-trade that was officially completed on Wednesday. But with Kristaps Porzingis’ two-year extension officially announced on Wednesday, too, the Brown extension seems to be the last remaining piece of business for the Celtics to complete this summer. Talks are ongoing as the Las Vegas Summer League continues this week.

“I can’t really talk about it but it’s been all good discussion,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told reporters Wednesday night in Vegas. “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 have time here. I probably shouldn’t say anything else, but I feel optimistic.”

Because he was named to an All-NBA team last season, Brown – who is entering the final season of his current contract – is eligible for a five-year extension worth roughly $295 million that would begin in the 2024-25 season with the C’s. No other team can offer him the supermax. The delay in getting a deal completed is likely related to specific terms, such as possible pushes from Brown’s camp for a trade kicker as MassLive reported or a player option in the final year of the deal. Brown and the Celtics have until October to come to an agreement.

Like dealing Marcus Smart, trading Grant Williams was unique for Stevens, who coached the young forward in his first two seasons before moving to the front office. While Williams wasn’t as impactful as Smart, though, it was still a difficult decision for Stevens but a necessary one as the Celtics seek some financial flexibility entering the new collective bargaining agreement.

Williams was traded to the Mavericks and signed a four-year deal as the Celtics received multiple second-round picks in the three-team trade.

“Obviously, Grant had a good four years with us and did a lot of good things and obviously every decision we make right now you’ve got to have short and long-term in mind, but he’ll do well,” Stevens told reporters. “We’re in a unique position obviously where, when we traded, we weren’t going to take much back. But I do think it’ll be a good opportunity for him and it gives us some flexibility here as we move forward. But he did a good job. He’s a hard guy to lose.”

Newest Celtic Jordan Walsh is continuing to impress in Summer League, and produced his best performance yet in Boston’s 95-90 victory over the Lakers on Wednesday night, its first win of the summer. The second-round pick scored 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting along with eight rebounds. Walsh spear-headed a furious Celtics comeback as they turned a 10-point halftime deficit into a lead. The 19-year-old Walsh hit a 3-pointer to give the C’s a lead, and soon after let out a big scream.

“Boston, we’re known for being tough, we’re known for fighting, and that’s what we’re doing now,” Walsh said on NBA TV after the win. “We gathered our team at halftime, we told them us being down 10 at halftime, it’s nothing. Let’s fight through it, let’s get a dub.”

Walsh is now averaging 18.3 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting and 36.8 percent from 3-point range through games this summer. It’s only Summer League, but Walsh is looking like he could make an impact with the Celtics as a rookie. …

It appears that Malcolm Brogdon won’t need offseason surgery after injuring his forearm in the Eastern Conference Finals. Stevens told reporters, including the Globe, that the guard’s recovery is going well.

“He feels good,” Stevens told reporters. “It’s rest and rehab. He’s felt great, so all signs point to resuming basketball activities soon.” …

The Celtics will continue Summer League play on Friday night against the Knicks with tip set for 7 p.m.