What does Jaylen Brown’s supermax Celtics extension mean for Knicks?

The chatter about Jaylen Brown requesting a trade from the Celtics or leaving in free agency no longer matters. The Athletic’s Shams Charania broke the news that the 26-year-old guard agreed to a massive five-year, $304 million supermax extension to stay in Boston.

In an interview with The Ringer’s Logan Murdock that dropped in March, Brown was non-committal about his future with the Celtics. Brown also advocated for his former head coach Ime Udoka to get another opportunity elsewhere, which happened shortly after that when Udoka was named head coach of the Rockets. Udoka’s hiring led to speculation that perhaps Brown would want to go to Houston.

Brown’s struggles in the playoffs caused even Celtics fans that wanted him to stay to rethink the idea of him signing a supermax extension. In Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat, Brown posted 19 points (8-of-23), eight rebounds, and eight turnovers in a horrific 103-84 loss. That isn’t the kind of performance you want to see from one of your star players.

Ultimately, Boston gave Brown the richest contract in the NBA, surpassing the extension Nikola Jokic signed last season.

Jaylen Brown signs supermax extension, no longer possible Knicks target

When Jaylen Brown’s name was wrapped up in trade speculation at the end of last season, many Knicks fans started to dream about seeing the guard suit up for New York. Brown would’ve been a good backcourt partner for Jalen Brunson (Jalen-Jaylen), but that pipe dream is out of the window.

Brown was set to be a free agent next summer, and although it would’ve been hard to envision Boston letting him walk for nothing, New York could’ve pursued him then. However, there’s another division rival star that the Knicks have been connected to, and it’s Joel Embiid. Based on what’s been reported, Embiid is the dream target that New York is holding out for.

From the Knicks’ perspective, the Brown supermax could come back to haunt the Celtics. Whether you’re a New York fan that likes Julius Randle or not, the Knicks All-Star has posted similar numbers to Brown over the last few seasons and is on a far cheaper contract.

The pressure is on for Jaylen Brown, who is set to make a little less than $70 million in the final year of his new contract. Not only is that a ton of money to commit to one player, but especially to a player who is fresh off a dud postseason performance.

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