After failing to put the Miami Heat away in the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 7 at TD Garden, the NBA offseason has officially begun for the Boston Celtics, with some concerns needing to be addressed for the 17-time champions.
The No. 1 priority for the Celtics is whether the team wants to commit long-term to star forward Jaylen Brown, who is coming off an ugly Game 7 performance against the Heat.
Despite how things ended for Brown, the 26-year-old made an All-NBA team this season, which makes him eligible for a supermax contract extension with the team.
This puts the Celtics in a difficult situation, as it has been unclear whether the team wants to keep Brown or send him elsewhere in a trade package to surround Jayson Tatum with more talent moving forward.
On Thursday, Brad Stevens provided some clarity on Brown’s future, even though he’s not allowed to talk about the contract situation, via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston.
"I'm not allowed to talk about the contract details, let alone the extension… but I can say without a doubt we want Jaylen to be here."
Brad Stevens on Jaylen Brown's contract extension pic.twitter.com/skLAyXEoAZ
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 1, 2023
Although Stevens has made it clear that the team wants Brown back, that might not necessarily be the case when discussing a contract extension with the two-time NBA All-Star.
Stevens may be saying what Brown and some of the fans want to hear in Boston but could be keeping his options open if a trade possibility makes the team better or more well-rounded moving forward.
Only time will tell how this all unfolds in Boston, but for now, the Celtics appear to want Brown in the fold for the foreseeable future.
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