As the 2022-23 NBA season came to an end in June, we were all expecting trades to be imminent. However, from a Celtics fan’s perspective, I am betting many of us were not expecting what unfolded once the trading commenced.
Two of our most prominent players were faced with career-altering contract changes. On the negative side, our beloved Marcus Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. As for the good news, the Celtics successfully signed Jaylen Brown in a supermax extension with the team.
Regarding Smart, he was acquired through a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards. The Celtics obtained Wizard’s center, Kristaps Porzingis, the No. 25 pick in the 2023 Draft, and the 2024 first-round pick through this trade. The Grizzlies secured solely Marcus Smart, and the Wizards gained Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies, Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala from the Celtics, as well as the No. 35 pick in the 2023 Draft.
Smart was with the Boston Celtics for all of his nine seasons in the NBA prior to this trade. He established his prowess as a defensive player for the Celtics, earning multiple awards for his defensive performances with the team. Not only will Smart be missed for his iconic green hair, but also for his admirable work ethic and devotion to the sport of basketball. Boston possesses a very strong fanbase, no doubt saddened by this trade. We thank Smart for a phenomenal nine years with the Celtics and wish him all the best with the Grizzlies.
Following this transaction for the Celtics organization, fans were delighted to learn of Jaylen Brown’s acceptance of the supermax extension that the Celtics offered him. Contractually, Brown was given this offer after being selected for second-team All-NBA honors in the 2022-23 NBA season. This five-year 305-million dollar contract made history by being the largest contract an NBA player has ever signed. This contract will run through the 2028-29 NBA season. Brown will be 32 by the end of this contract.
Brown’s teammate Jason Tatum will be eligible for a supermax contract after the 2023-24 season. The Brown-Tatum duo is one of the most dynamic in the NBA with their unstoppable skills and knowledge of each other’s play. Their productive play is one of the primary reasons why the Celtics made it into the NBA finals this past season.
Not only is this contract with Jaylen Brown crucial from a game standpoint, but the Celtics organization also fully supports him and his philanthropic efforts. Through his 7uice Foundation, Brown’s charitable efforts to support hundreds of students in the Boston area have provided countless opportunities for underserved students in Black and Brown communities. He is an incredibly intelligent man that genuinely cares about the community around him and is working to make a difference. Brown’s efforts are admirable and make him an even more valuable player for the Celtis.
It will be exciting to see Jaylen Brown continue to lead the Celtics to success. Additionally, he and Jason Tatum will inevitably be a joy to watch play together this upcoming season.
