Both the Nets and the Celtics would run the same amount of risk in the Kevin Durant-Jaylen Brown transaction. Durant has four seasons of team control and is 33 years old. Despite being eight years younger at age 25, Brown has very little team authority due to CBA regulations. Brown’s basic pay for the 2023–24 season would be $28.5 million if he signed a sub-maximum contract. Mike Brown, a guard for the Hawks, could be in line for a $34.2 million extension for the 2024–25 season.
He may sign anything as an unrestricted free agent up to his maximum of 30% of the salary cap.
The cap is anticipated to be $133 million during the 2022–23 campaign. That would represent an increase of about $10 million over the $123.6 million season cap. Additionally, he would have more freedom to choose from a far wider range of locations. If Jaylen Brown makes an All-NBA team, the CBA provides a road to a supermax contract, but only if he stays with the Boston Celtics.
What if…?
He would no longer be eligible for the supermax if he were traded to the Brooklyn Nets and used as the main element of a Kevin Durant-Kevin Durant transaction. It’s unfortunate because he would be more likely to become an All-Star in Brooklyn than he is in Boston.
The danger for the Nets is that Brown could go before they can develop a successful team around him. They might acquire one in a Brown deal, but it’s far harder to predict whether they would be able to retain him. According to the basketball definition of risk, Boston would be doing the more daring action in this situation. By exchanging a 25-year-old for an older player, the Celtics would be reducing the length of their championship window.
I adore our group.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics said he “makes nothing of it” when it comes to trade rumors involving Kevin Durant. Tatum: I cherish our group. I adore the guys we have. Before the debut of the Showtime documentary “Point Gods,” Tatum gave a speech. The documentary’s executive producer is Durant.
Rich Kleiman, the star’s manager, and business partner declined to comment on the request for a transfer.