The Boston Celtics believe that Jaylen Brown, the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, is worth about half as much as Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons or Denver Nuggets shooting guard Jamal Murray.
They didn’t put it in those words but looking at the offer they extended to Brown on a rookie-scale contract extension — four years and $80 million, per Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes — that’s what they appear to think.
Both Simmons and Murray agreed to max extensions with their clubs, valued at five years and $170 million each. That’s a contract with a value of $34 million per year.
Per Haynes, “Brown believes in his ability to one day be a star and is pursuing a bigger offer, sources said.”
Like shooting guard Buddy Hield, who was offered a four-year, $90 million contract by the Sacramento Kings (per Haynes), Brown could be looking for a contract extension worth a total value of at least $100 million. Hield, who is arguably a better pro than Brown at this stage in their careers, is looking for $110 million.
That could very well mean the two sides won’t reach an agreement before the Oct. 21 deadline, which would lead to the soon-to-be 23-year-old becoming a restricted free agent at the beginning of the 2020 offseason.
