Celtics
“It’s time to interrupt Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum up.”
The Celtics could have loads of questions to handle this summer time.
Past Joe Mazzulla’s standing and the potential tinkering of the roster, Brad Stevens and Boston’s entrance workplace may have to confront some exhausting truths over whether or not or not this present core can win a title collectively.
And after Boston’s letdown efficiency in Recreation 7 towards the Warmth, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins and Stephen A. Smith each imagine that the Celtics want so as to add one other celebrity subsequent to Jayson Tatum.
Talking on ESPN’s Sportscenter on Monday night time, Perkins believes that the time is now for Boston to commerce Jaylen Brown — particularly if it lands a star expertise at the moment out West.
“It’s time to interrupt Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum up,” Perkins stated, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Adam London. “Jaylen Brown was horrible tonight — eight turnovers, 8-for-23 from the sector. Jayson Tatum, damage. That is the time he’s purported to step up. I simply don’t know, for those who’re the entrance workplace of the Celtics, how for much longer you’re going to be affected person with this duo.
“There are going to be guys on the market which are going to be considerably available on the market, like a Trae Younger and a Damian Lillard. Brad Stevens and Wyc Grousbeck are going to should take a tough have a look at whether or not or not they wish to carry Jaylen Brown again and pair him up with Jayson Tatum, which I feel they shouldn’t. I feel they need to go on the market and attempt to get a Damian Lillard, and in the event that they fall in need of getting him, go get a Trae Younger. However I feel it’s time to finish this relationship proper now.”
Smith echoed an analogous sentiment when it got here to each Brown’s future in Boston and the C’s potential contingency plan in Lillard.
“He’s simply not your number-one choice,” Smith stated of Brown and his potential supermax contract on Tuesday’s “Get Up” ESPN program. “That form of cash is reserved for the number-one man. … I imply, there’s a man by the identify of Damian Lillard in Portland. I wouldn’t thoughts getting any person like him who’s a better by the best way. Who’s a degree guard as a better, who’s a sniper, we acquired all of that stuff going for ourselves for those who’re Damian Lillard. Clearly he’s older than Jaylen Brown.
“However Jaylen Brown, I feel the true problem is that he has aspirations for being that number-one man and that’s by no means going to occur with Jayson Tatum. … Both you get an abundance of gamers, which I don’t assume is important, otherwise you get a superstar-caliber sniper like Damian Lillard to return to Boston in return for his companies. If I’m the Boston Celtics, I’m one thing alongside these traces — fairly than giving [Brown] $59 million, which is greater than Damian Lillard is making at this second in time.”
Despite the fact that Lillard presents loads of intrigue when it comes to his lofty resume and standing as a sharpshooting level guard, there may be loads of threat concerned with such a blockbuster transfer.
Lillard’s skillset may complement each Tatum and the Celtics as a complete, however Boston will nonetheless probably be in a cap crunch if it ever managed to drag off such a commerce.
Sure, Lillard’s deal isn’t as hefty as Brown’s potential supermax contract (5 years, as much as $295 million), however the veteran continues to be accounting for cap hits of $45.6 million and $48.7 million over the following two seasons.
And with Lillard turning 33 in July, the Celtics swapping out Brown for an getting older level guard like him presents loads of threat.
As promising as Kemba Walker was with Boston as a succesful level guard able to sinking photographs, the Celtics are nicely conscious that issues can off the rails in a rush with smaller guards with tons of mileage tacked onto them.
After all, it additionally stays to be seen if Portland would even wish to commerce Lillard in a cope with Brown, fairly than provide a bundle of belongings just like the No. 3 choose within the 2023 NBA Draft and Anfernee Simons.
For what it’s value, Tatum vouched for Brown to stay in Boston for the foreseeable future following Monday’s loss.
“He’s the most effective gamers on this league,” Tatum stated of his teammate. “He performs each ends of the ball and nonetheless is comparatively younger. And he’s achieved so much to date in his profession.”
But it surely’s nonetheless unclear about whether or not or not Brown himself desires to play with the Celtics for subsequent 5 or extra seasons.
“I anticipated to win at the moment and transfer on,” Brown stated of his future plans on Monday. “That’s what my focus is on, that’s what my focus has been on. We failed, I failed, and it’s exhausting to consider the rest proper now. We’ll cross that bridge after we come to it.”
Join Celtics updates🏀
Get breaking information and evaluation delivered to your inbox throughout basketball season.
E-newsletter Signup
Keep updated on all the newest information from Boston.com