We’re nearly on the finish of July, and Jaylen Brown is but to signal a contract extension with the Boston Celtics, regardless of being eligible for Supermax. Current reporting has famous how Brown had prior commitments in Europe, and the negotiations are actually on ‘maintain’. For some, the delay in signing a brand new deal is nothing to fret about, whereas for others, it appears like one thing isn’t fairly proper behind the scenes.
There has additionally been a considerable amount of hypothesis as to how Brown’s impending contract may probably be structured. Sadly, not all the hypothesis has been factually correct, which ends up in unfair and unrealistic expectations. As such, I reached out to former CelticsBlog cap guru Keith Smith to try to piece collectively what can and might’t be added to Brown’s deal.
As you’ll count on, my first query was brief and candy: is it regular for supermax extensions to take this lengthy?
Keith:
“Basically, supermax extensions have occurred pretty shortly. There’s a Reddit submit that’s been handed round about how lengthy it took others, however it’s missing context. The preliminary batch took a bit longer as a result of your entire idea was new. There have been additionally a number of that occurred on bizarre timelines as a result of these offseasons have been on adjusted calendars attributable to COVID-impacted seasons. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s worrisome that Jaylen Brown and the Celtics are taking this lengthy, however it’s definitely irregular.”
Okay, so it’s not regular for issues to be taking this lengthy, however it’s additionally not time to hit the panic button, understood. With that being mentioned, it’s unlikely that the negotiations are getting caught on the precise figures being provided — something over 30% of the cap is a rise on what a max contract can be and is greater than Brown would earn wherever else. So, the delay have to be centered on the finer particulars.
Throughout a current article for Heavy on Sports activities, longtime Celtics author Steve Bulpett shared a dialogue he had with an nameless league government, the place the notion of probably providing Brown a number of possibility years was floated.
“What if Boston provided him an opt-out after three years (of the extension) and a staff possibility after 4 years? That permits him to have a look at the place the market is then after the brand new media offers are executed and streaming is available in with Amazon and Apple and all these people bidding to get in,” The chief mentioned to Bulpett.
Personally, I’ve by no means heard of a max or supermax contract having a number of possibility years constructed into the deal. So, this was the second query I posed to Keith.
Keith:
“Choice years (true choices, not non-guaranteed years, which are sometimes reported as staff choices however aren’t) can solely be on the ultimate season of a contract. That’s true of participant choices, early termination choices (these two are functionally the identical factor for nearly all intents and functions), and staff choices. The one exception is that first-round rookie scale contracts embody two staff possibility years. However all different offers can solely have an possibility on the finals season.”
Okay, so it seems like giving Brown extra flexibility on his future, by way of opting out early, isn’t a viable path ahead. We’re a participant possibility on the ultimate 12 months. Apart from that potential participant possibility, Brown can be tied to the deal at some stage in the contract — which doesn’t essentially imply he’d be tied to Boston, simply to clear that up.
Perhaps, Brown needs some assurances that his identify isn’t going to be floated in commerce rumors shifting ahead. In any case, Brown has seen his identify linked with Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid (lately), and Damian Lillard, amongst others. Maybe a no-trade clause might be the potential kicker that’s at present obtained negotiations caught within the mud?
Throughout a current article by Adam Himmelsbach for the Boston Globe, an government steered probably sweeting Brown’s subsequent contract by together with a no-trade clause to the deal.
“There might be some dialogue over incentives included on this extension which are unlikely to be obtained, equivalent to a bonus for being named league MVP,” The chief informed Himmelsbach. “However in line with one former NBA common supervisor, it’s unlikely that the edges are haggling over these particulars at this level. The previous government steered the hold-up is most probably over a fifth-year participant possibility and/or a possible no-trade clause. Gamers want eight years of service to be eligible for a no-trade clause, and Brown has accomplished solely seven, so that isn’t an possibility. However Brown’s camp may negotiate a commerce kicker price as much as 15 % of his wage. A kicker is actually a bonus paid to the participant by his present staff if he’s traded.”
Since that article was launched, there was some debate as as to whether Brown can be eligible for a no-trade clause…so I requested Smith.
Keith:
“Jaylen Brown shouldn’t be eligible for a no-trade clause for 2 completely different causes. The primary is that to get a no-trade clause, it’s a must to have at the very least eight years of service and at the very least 4 years with the identical staff. Brown has solely seven years of service. (The 2023-24 season shall be Brown’s eighth season, however gamers should not credited with a 12 months of service till after the season completes.)
The second purpose Brown can’t get a no-trade clause is which you could’t have on in an extension except the earlier contract additionally included one. As coated above, Brown isn’t eligible for an NTC but, so he doesn’t have one in his present contract. Within the case of Bradley Beal, who famously has the one present negotiated no-trade clause within the NBA, he signed a completely new contract with the Washington Wizards and never an extension.”
It might seem that Brown’s contract is unlikely to incorporate a number of the sweeteners which were mentioned in current weeks. The most probably consequence, assuming Brown indicators a supermax extension, is that the deal has a participant possibility within the ultimate 12 months and ensures he turns into one of many best-paid gamers within the NBA shifting ahead. Keith additionally confirmed {that a} commerce kicker is a official risk and a possible one at that. If that’s not sufficient to get Brown to signal on the dotted line, then I don’t know what’s.
