The Celtics’ decision to move on from Jaylen Brown was supposed to be about Boston’s books. Less than two weeks later, it already looks like it could ripple far beyond them.
Brown, a 10-year Celtic, was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers last week, and Celtics president Brad Stevens made it clear why the front office went that direction when he spoke for the first time after the blockbuster. With Brown and Jayson Tatum taking up the bulk of the salary cap, Stevens said the team’s margin for building around them had narrowed.
“The path looked a little bit more challenging to me,” Stevens said Monday. “I might be wrong.
I’m not going to stand up there and be defensive about that. But the path looked a little bit more challenging with 70% of our (salary) cap, and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players.”
That’s the reality the NBA’s current collective bargaining setup has forced on teams. Keeping a high-priced core together now comes with far more pain than it used to, and Boston’s choice reflects how brutal those penalties can be for clubs that keep spending at the top.
Brown still has three seasons left on his current deal, but he’s eligible for an extension this summer. If he and Philadelphia reach an agreement, he could land a supermax that runs two more years beginning in his age-33 season. That’s a hefty commitment for an older star, and one Boston clearly wasn’t eager to make.
What makes the Brown move sting a little more for Celtics fans is how quickly another star has seemed to embrace the opposite idea.
Victor Wembanyama, with his rookie extension approaching, hinted Friday morning that he was willing to give the San Antonio Spurs some financial breathing room. He posted:
“Spurs family, I’m here to stay.
Whatever it takes🖤”
NBA insider Jake Fischer then added context, writing, “There has been word this morning in Las Vegas that Victor Wembanyama is considering signing less than his maximum rookie scale extension to provide San Antonio greater financial flexibility,”
Wembanyama later agreed to a five-year deal at 5% less than the supermax salary. He chose the 25% maximum instead of the 30% supermax escalators that would have taken the contract to $303 million, after he and the Spurs worked through multiple frameworks. It’s a major call for the All-NBA star and Defensive Player of the Year as he enters his fourth season.
Shams Charania reported that San Antonio “worked in close…” on the deal.
For Boston, the timing is hard to miss. The Celtics made a ruthless financial decision on Brown, and now one of the league’s brightest young stars has shown he’s willing to leave money on the table for roster flexibility. If Wembanyama’s choice catches on, Boston’s move may end up looking less like a one-off and more like the kind of precedent that changes how stars think about their next contract.
In Other News...
Chris Cenac Jr. Gave Celtics Fans Exactly The Rookie Promise They Crave
Bostons summer league opener gave fans a first look at the kind of rookie impact theyve been waiting to see, and Chris Cenac Jr. delivered plenty of it in an 83-80 overtime win over Toronto. The Celtics had to rally from a double-digit deficit, but Cenacs debut offered the blend of activity and poise that can make a summer showcase feel a little more meaningful than the average July box score.
He finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, giving Boston a frontcourt presence that showed up on both ends and kept the game within reach when it mattered. Dillon Mitchell also flashed with defense and energy, while Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams and John Tonje each had their own stretches, leaving the Celtics with a promising opening-night mix and a few more reasons to keep watching this group closely. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick White Gets Real About Celtics Pressure After Chaotic Offseason
The Celtics offseason has already delivered enough twists to keep the locker room on edge, and Derrick White sounded like a player trying to make sense of it all while keeping the focus on the same old standard: winning. He spoke about the changes around Boston, including the shock of seeing Jaylen Brown moved on and the arrivals of Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, while making clear that his respect for Brown remains intact and that the teams expectations have not changed.
White also touched on the ripple effects inside the roster, from Neemias Quetas new contract to his own push for a better season. He said he wants to sharpen his shooting and clean up a few small areas after feeling he did not play as well as he wanted last year, a reminder that even amid the roster churn, the Celtics are still measuring themselves against the same internal bar. [Read more 🡒]