Those six players alone would put Boston at around $177 million in salary, well on its way to screeching past the “second apron” line that brings with it extreme roster restrictions. The Celtics also have White ($19.3 million), Robert Williams ($12.7 million) and Horford ($9.5 million) already under contract for that season. During the 2024-25 season, that trio would be set to make a combined $135 million out of a projected salary cap of about $143 million. The Celtics would invite all of the NBA’s lightning, hail and snow by trying to team Beal, Brown and Tatum long-term. Hollinger’s story is a good read for anyone who wants specifics in summary, there will be a new type of storm for the most expensive teams to survive. During the recent postseason, The Athletic’s John Hollinger broke down some of the most significant changes after getting a look at the term sheet of the new CBA. The biggest problems would arise laterĪs has been written in many places, the new collective bargaining agreement will severely limit the roster-building tools of teams that spend a heap of money. On the other hand, there would be questions about whether the trio of Beal, Brown and Tatum share too many overlapping qualities to mesh perfectly. It’s easy to argue that such a setup would give Boston a better chance at the 2024 championship, even if it would hurt to give up Smart and Brogdon. Add a healthy Danilo Gallinari to the mix and the Celtics would have reasonable depth, though not an ideal bench, even if they let Grant Williams walk in free agency. That would leave Boston with an extremely talented starting lineup of Derrick White, Beal, Brown, Tatum and either Al Horford or Robert Williams III, plus a bench of Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and whichever center Joe Mazzulla would want to play. A package of something like Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart and draft capital would work under the collective bargaining agreement. The Celtics would have other ways to build matching salaries for a trade without involving Brown in an offer. (Vaughn Ridley / NBAE via Getty Images) But what if the Celtics don’t include Brown? As good as he is, rebuilding teams normally don’t target All-Stars who double as flight risks. That means the Wizards, like any other potential Brown suitor, would likely be chasing him without any promise he would stay beyond the final year left on his current contract. Though Brown is eligible to sign a supermax extension with Boston this offseason, he wouldn’t be able to do the same with any team acquiring him via trade. That doesn’t necessarily mean he will outplay Beal over the next four or five seasons, but could mean the Celtics would want additional assets back in an exchange of Brown and Beal.įor Washington, such a move would carry significant risk. The possible downsides of signing Brown to a supermax extension would also count for acquiring Beal, who has four years still remaining on his own version of that contract.Įven if the Boston front office saw Beal as a talent upgrade or fit upgrade over Brown (I have no idea if that’s the case), the age difference and Beal’s recent injury history point toward Brown as a safer long-term bet. Brown is three years younger than Beal and at least similarly productive. Both of those factors should limit the price he fetches on the market. In case Stevens’ word isn’t convincing enough: Beal is owed nearly $208 million over the next four seasons, and he has a no-trade clause. “I can say without a doubt, we want Jaylen to be here and he’s a big part of us and we believe in him and I’m thankful for him,” Brad Stevens said recently. The Celtics have given off every indication that they intend to continue building around Brown and Tatum. It seems far-fetched that Boston and Washington would agree on any trade involving Jaylen Brown. Even if the Celtics don’t plan to mount a significant charge for Beal, his situation is worth diving into to help examine the potential long-term impact of a star pursuit.
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