Does Jaylen Brown Really Want To Play In Boston?

By: Steve Atkinson

If you were offered a 5-year $295 million contract, wouldn’t you have accepted, it already? Well, Jaylen Brown hasn’t yet, and now the discussions are on pause. Brown really wants to be a number one somewhere so if he does sign the extension, he wants a clause to opt out of the last year. The Celtics don’t probably want that and want him for the whole five years. But Brown has made it clear with comments in the past he really doesn’t like Boston. In fact, I’m not sure if any big name in the NBA really likes Boston.

When Damian Lillard was asked where he would want to play and Boston was brought up he laughed and said Miami. He doesn’t want to play with Tatum and Brown he wants to play in Miami where the clubs are. Brown if he had to chose where to play I don’t think Boston would be on his list of teams. I’m thinking either Brooklyn, Lakers, Miami, or Houston. Somewhere where he can grow his brand and be number one. Although he had the chance to be number one in game seven a few months ago and didn’t come through.

Brad Stevens spoke the other day about the Brown contract talks.

“I can’t really talk about it but it’s been all good discussion,” Stevens said. “We want Jaylen to be here for a long, long time, and we’ve made that clear. We’re looking forward to all sitting down and we have time here. I probably shouldn’t say anything else, but I feel optimistic.”

What I think Brown is thinking over is that last year. The only reason he signs the contract is because of the money not because he wants to play in Boston. Only the Celtics can offer the supermax and I don’t see him going somewhere else for less money. The only time I see him going somewhere else is when he opts out of the fifth year.

Recent comments on Brown from last January really put in perspective that he feels he’s not appreciated in Boston.

We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct.”

Does Brown think he is needed in Boston? I would say yes to working with Tatum and now that coach Smart is gone it should work better. I don’t think the fans like the fact that Brown is friends with Kyrie so is Tatum. Both players look up to him as sort of a role model. This is what Brown told the Ringer back in March.

We all got ups and downs. And most of all, we don’t always handle everything in the perfect media-appropriate demeanor. Kyrie, one thing about him, he going to be who he is. I appreciate that.

I think Brown does feel he can’t really grow his brand in Boston. I do think he signs the supermax because of the money with an opt out and picks where he wants to play.

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