Why Isiah Thomas reportedly thinks Jaylen Brown supermax could be ‘win-win’ deal for Celtics

Celtics

The Corridor of Fame guard mentioned Brown ought to “take the cash.”

Corridor of Fame guard Isiah Thomas has a easy piece of recommendation for Jaylen Brown as he strikes into the ultimate yr of his contract with the Celtics.

Brown is eligible for a possible five-year, $290 million supermax extension subsequent summer season. If the Celtics provide it, he may select both to stay with Boston long run or enter free company and begin recent elsewhere.

“Take the cash,” Thomas mentioned, in accordance with Steve Bulpett of Heavy Sports activities.

Based on Bulpett, Thomas is a longtime mentor and supporter of Brown.

“Once I received to know Jaylen Brown and the way he performed I mentioned to him — and that is earlier than the draft course of began — I mentioned to him, ‘You’re a Celtic.’” Thomas mentioned. “He matches the Celtic tradition that I performed in opposition to, that I competed in opposition to. That I do know.”

Since being chosen with the No. 3 total decide within the 2016 NBA Draft, Brown has helped the Celtics make 5 Japanese Convention Finals appearances.

“Yeah, he’s been nice there,” Thomas advised Bulpett. “He’s had an incredible profession there, and he’s turn into among the best gamers within the league. They’ve achieved nicely, and he’s achieved nicely there. It’s been a win-win, I feel, for him and for the Celtics.”

The Celtics made the NBA Finals and misplaced to the Golden State Warriors in 2022, however didn’t return to the Finals this yr after being eradicated by Miami within the Japanese Convention Finals.

That regression, paired with Brown’s poor play in Recreation 7 and the sheer amount of cash that comes with a supermax deal, have brought about some to query whether or not Brown is price it.

Thomas mentioned the fallout from Ime Udoka’s suspension, in addition to the Celtics dropping prime assistants Will Hardy and Damon Stoudamire, had a damaging impact on the staff.

“Hey, I don’t care how proficient your staff is, when half of your teaching workers walks out of the door, that’s going to have an effect on you,” Thomas mentioned. “That’s simply the way it goes. You lose your head coach and your prime two assistants, you’re going to be impacted by that.”

Thomas mentioned his Pistons groups had a more durable street to the Finals going up in opposition to the Celtics within the 80s than Brown and Tatum’s Celtics groups do right this moment.

However he nonetheless appreciates the leap from contenders to champions that Brown and the Celtics try to make.

“Making an attempt to win a championship on the NBA stage for knowledgeable basketball participant, there’s no more durable factor that you just’ll attempt to do in your life,” mentioned Thomas.