Jaylen Brown is a “pillar” of the Boston Celtics’ organization. He and Jayson Tatum are both under contract through at least 2024, and if Brown makes an All-NBA team this year, he’ll be eligible for a supermax extension that would keep him with the C’s for at least five more years.
And yet … Brown remains wary of the business that is the NBA.
In an interview with The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, Brown was asked if he wants to stay in Boston long-term. Brown’s response:
“I don’t know. As long as I’m needed. It’s not up to me. We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct.”
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Celtics. But Brown’s quote comes with context: The 26-year-old has been involved in multiple trade rumors during his Boston tenure, including last offseason and earlier this season when there was speculation that the C’s would deal Brown to the Brooklyn Nets in return for Kevin Durant.
When photos surfaced over the summer of Tatum and Durant working out together, Brown actually had a three-way call with Tatum and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to voice his puzzlement.
