Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown has agreed to terms on a five-year supermax extension that will pay him up to US$304 million. Brown’s agent, Jason Glushon, confirmed the development on Tuesday, several weeks after the Celtics were eliminated the Eastern Conference finals. The deal is the richest contract in National Basketball Association history. It eclipses the US$264-million deal signed by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic last year. The transaction kept Jaylen Brown with the squad that drafted him in 2016. The 6-foot-6 California standout averaged career-high numbers in the 2022-23 season and paired with Jayson Tatum in guiding Boston to the playoffs. Brown’s all-around output rewarded him of a second team All-NBA selection making him eligible for a supermax extension. The development strengthens the Celtics’ status among online NBA betting categories as the team’s one-two punch will last for a long time.
Jaylen Brown Commits to Five-Year Extension with Celtics
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens saw Brown’s value to the team. Stevens made sure that the guard will remain in the team and the supermax extension offer proves this. For the former Boston head coach, Jaylen Brown is a big part of the team and he is impressed with how the player composes himself and takes responsibility from past failures. His court partner, All-Star Jayson Tatum, gave a sign of approval on the deal as well. He expressed belief that keeping Brown for the long-term is very important. Brown’s new deal will likely result to some financial maneuvering in the future, with the league’s new collective bargaining agreement set to be implemented. The CBA is expected to bring more limitations on how ballclubs construct their rosters and luxury tax penalties they might face.
NBA Issues Memo to Squads on Lillard’s Status
The National Basketball Association has issued a memo to all ballclubs with regards to the status of All-Star guard Damian Lillard. The league told the teams’ general managers that Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, will honor the contract he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in the event of a future trade. The official communication was made following Goodwin’s statement that his client wants to be dealt to the Miami Heat. The league warned that Lillard will be facing disciplinary actions if he and his agent make additional comments that suggest that he will not comply with the previous contract he signed if a trade with a team other than the Heat materializes. Lillard and Goodwin, as well as the teams that spoke with the agent, had a meeting with the NBA. Goodwin denied claims that he told clubs that the guard would refuse to play for them.
The teams also told the league that Goodwin’s statements in previous conferences were not consistent. The league also instructed the Players Association that further comments will be subject to punishment in the future. Lillard’s status in the league remains up in the air as of the moment. The upcoming season is still a long way to go and he still has enough time to train and get ready. If the trade materializes, the team that acquires the prolific guard will become an instant favorite in the betting site that has an option to select from the available sports picks and parlays on the list.
Bucks Keep Thanasis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks have announced that Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, re-signed with the club for a fifth season. The development means that the 31-year-old forward will continue to play with the Bucks. Thanasis averaged 1.4 points and 5.6 minutes in 37 games last season. He played 162 games in his previous four seasons with Milwaukee. He started 11 times. The older Antetokounmpo played two games with the New York Knicks in the 2015-16 season. He signed with the Bucks in the 2019-20 season after playing three seasons in Spain and Greece.
Hawks, Magic to play in Mexico City
The Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic will headline the 2023 Mexico City Game of the NBA. According to a league statement, it will be the 32nd time that the league has played in the North American country. Mexico first hosted the event in 1992 and it is the most of any nation outside the US and Canada. The Hawks will play in Mexico for the first time while the Magic will play in the country for the fourth time. According to Magic chief executive Alex Martins, the team loves representing the NBA for it had been to London twice and had previous stops in Japan, China, Brazil and Mexico City.
He noted that the Magic ballclub knows the passion of the Mexican fans and are looking forward to play in Mexico City. This is the first time that Orlando’s first overall pick Paolo Banchero will play in Mexico. Meanwhile, Hawks boss Steve Koonin said that Atlanta are ready to connect with the Mexican fans and experience Mexico’s culture. The Hawks saw action in the first exhibition games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates last year.
