Please let's stop with the completely false narrative that the Celtics can't afford to pay him the max. That they are somehow going to scoff at possibly having to pay a few million extra in luxury tax for a year. The Celtics are an extremely profitable team. They can afford paying the max to Brown.
Remember, Hayward would come off the books the year you need to extend Tatum to big bucks. If at the end of Hayward's contract would you rather have Brown, Tatum and Kemba or Kemba, Hayward and Tatum? Of course the answer is Brown, Kemba and Tatum as Brown and Tatum will be entering their primes with old vet Kemba.
And given the lack of any stars looking for free agentt money, teams will offer Brown the max. So, unless Brown somehow stagnates or falls back in quality, he is going to get the max next year and he may as well stay here and be the Celtics now and future with Tatum.
It's not false.
Sure the Celts can afford to pay the max, but it's like the Celts are already a complete team.
How can the Celts get a quality big man if all the money is spent on wing players?
Also, why pay for the luxury tax when you know you won't be able to win a championship?
According to Wyc, they will only pay luxury tax if the Celts are in a position to win a championship.
A Celtics team with 4 players getting at least 30m per year, and none of them are bigs, will be a flawed team.
So yes, in monetary terms, the Celts can afford to pay Brown the max.
But it's not practical because the Celts will be stuck with 3 wing players getting 30m per year.
That's the reason why some of us here are saying Celts can't afford to pay Brown the max.
No they wouldn't be stuck with 3wing players making $30 million because the same year Tatum gets paid, you can let Hayward go. As I said, if when Hayward's contract ends would you rather have Brown for three more years at $30 million at age 25 or a 31 going on 32 Hayward who you would have to pay for 3-4 more years?
The answer is simple: Brown.
So to accomplish that, you give Brown the max and if you have to pay a few million in luxury tax for one year, next year, which is not a guarantee, you pay it. It's also very possible the Celtics could give him max money and still land below the luxury tax line. But there is no year where the team will have to pay three wings over $30 million.
The whole concept of having to move Brown because the team can't afford it or, now this new one, that they will have to pay 3 wings over $30 million in the same year is just a completely false narrative. The Celtics can resign Brown to the max, it won't mess up team salary, it may not even put them into the lottery and they would never have to have 3 wings making over $30 million because Tatum's, Brown's and Hayward's contracts are structured in such a way as when Tatum needs to be paid, you can simply just let Hayward go.
You're assuming the Celts will not re-sign Hayward after his contract is up in 2021.
There's a bigger chance of Brown leaving than Brad and Hayward parting ways.
Last season we already saw how Brad gave Hayward special treatment and it upset some of the guys like Jaylen.
So if you're telling me the Celts will choose Brown over Hayward then I think you're right, the Celts will give Brown the max.
But here's the thing, we already saw evidence that Brad and Hayward have a special relationship.
And Ainge's offer of 80m for 4 years is also telling us that the Celts will not go nowhere near the max.
Right now the Celts have more or less 5 days to sign Brown to an extension.
If Brown doesn't get an extension by Oct. 21 then that means Brown will be asking for the max.
Will the Celts give Brown the max?
Highly unlikely.
Will the Celts trade Brown before Brown becomes a free-agent?
Very possible.
Time will tell.