The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks are dead. The Celtics never actually pulled the trigger on a deal that would have sent Jaylen Brown to Milwaukee. But the damage might already be done.
Brown was the centerpiece of Boston’s offer for the Bucks superstar. And for a guy who just helped the franchise win a championship, being dangled as trade bait leaves a mark. Brian Scalabrine, the former Celtic turned SiriusXM host, thinks the real test comes this summer. Not over hurt feelings. Over money.
“As we talk about on this show all the time, there’s one thing that players always want, and that’s respect,” Scalabrine said on The Starting Lineup. “And respect equals money. I think July 6th will determine a lot of what’s gonna happen.”
Brown is currently on a five-year, $304 million supermax extension he signed in July 2023. That deal runs through the 2028-2029 season. But he’s already eligible for a two-year, $142 million extension. And Scalabrine believes that could become a flashpoint.
“If the Celtics don’t offer him that deal, then Jaylen Brown might ask to be traded, even though he has three more years left,” Scalabrine said. “That’s gonna be a really interesting date. And in the meantime, if I’m Jaylen Brown, I’m on my best behavior because I want the Celtics to offer me two more years at $140 million.”
Brown’s performance last season justifies the money. He played 71 games and put up 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 34.7 percent from deep. His scoring ticked up in the playoffs, which only strengthens his leverage. Teams that need a proven two-way wing would line up for him.
The question is whether Boston wants to commit another $142 million to a player they just tried to trade. The Celtics have a history of making cold business decisions. They let Kyrie Irving walk. They traded Isaiah Thomas. They moved on from Marcus Smart. Brown knows how this front office operates.
He also knows he has all the leverage. If Boston says no to the extension, Brown can sit on his current deal and force a trade on his terms. The Celtics would have to weigh keeping a disgruntled star versus getting value back before his contract becomes a distraction.
Either way, July 6 is a date worth circling. Brown will find out if the franchise that almost shipped him out still sees him as part of the future. Or just an asset.
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