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Celtics legend believes Brown could leave Boston

Jaylen Brown Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics legend could see Jaylen Brown leaving Boston

By Colum Dell | Last updated 3/25/23

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown may be a two-time All-Star, but he often finds himself playing second fiddle to forward Jayson Tatum. Indeed, one Celtics legend could see him trying to lead a team of his own in the future.

Boston legend Paul Pierce believes Brown, 26, could head elsewhere to find a leading role. On SiriusXM NBA Radio's "The Starting Lineup," Pierce compared Brown's situation to those of James Harden and Tracy McGrady, who developed into superstars only after leaving their original teams.

"Maybe Jaylen wants the opportunity to be 'the guy. We've seen this for years as guys have left teams," the Hall-of-Famer explained. "Just think [about] James Harden. James Harden wouldn't be James Harden if he didn't leave [Oklahoma City]. Tracy McGrady wouldn't have turned into T-Mac if he didn't leave Toronto ... Maybe that's on Jaylen's mind, or maybe he'll stay."

Pierce noted that there were many different factors which were probably playing through Brown's head as he tries to map out his future in the NBA.

"Maybe Jaylen [Brown] wants the opportunity to be 'the guy'"

Paul Pierce is not sure about Jaylen Brown's future@paulpierce34 | @TheFrankIsola | @Scalabrine pic.twitter.com/VODUptlHqx
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) March 24, 2023

A free agent in 2024, Brown was noncommittal about his future in Boston during a recent interview with The Ringer's Logan Murdock. For however concerning his comments might have been, the Celtics can offer him more money than any team, a real incentive in its own right.

It should be noted that Brown can only sign a supermax extension by making an All-NBA team. Fortunately for Boston, he has a strong case to make one for the current campaign, as Brown is averaging 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, all career highs.

Despite outperforming Tatum during the 2022 NBA Finals, the Celtics reportedly included Brown in a package aimed at landing then-Net Kevin Durant last offseason, this according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. This wasn't the first time Boston has considered trading Brown, either. They internally discussed the idea when New Orleans made Anthony Davis available in 2019.

Existing in a small spotlight — relative to Tatum — while serving as the subject of trade rumors, it would be understandable if Brown ultimately left the team in free agency.

As with any sport, a player's situation can make or break their career in the NBA. Mikal Bridges, for example, was a role player on the Suns and has become an instant star for the Nets since being traded for Durant in February. Brown is already a fringe All-NBA talent and if he switched teams, there is at least an outside chance that he could develop into an MVP-caliber player.

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