Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown remains one of the NBA’s top scorers and a four-time All-Star, but league executives reportedly have mixed opinions about his trade value because of his salary.
Speaking on CLNS Media Boston Sports Network, NBA insider Jake Fischer shared that many front offices are hesitant to meet Boston’s valuation of Brown. “As great as he is,” Fischer said, via HoopsHype, “a lot of teams look at his salary number and go: ‘Why would you be paying what Boston values him at, for that contract?’”
Brown, 28, signed a five-year supermax extension with the Celtics in July 2023, the richest contract in NBA history at the time. Entering the 2025–26 season, his salary is projected to exceed $57 million annually, which some teams consider a challenging number to justify in a trade scenario.
Fischer added that Boston was never seriously considering moving Brown or guard Derrick White this offseason. He said rival clubs would have needed to offer players of the caliber of Desmond Bane or Mikal Bridges to even spark serious discussions about White.
Despite skepticism around his contract, Brown delivered strong performances last season. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and a career-best 4.5 assists per game, while helping Boston reach the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Brown also played through a partially torn meniscus during the playoffs, where he contributed 22.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. He underwent knee surgery in June and is expected to be fully recovered by training camp.
On December 27, Brown posted a season-high 44 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers, marking his 11th career game with 40 or more points. He was also named an All-Star reserve for the fourth time in his career in January.
Boston was eliminated by the New York Knicks in six games during the second round, but Brown recorded a near triple-double in Game 5 with 26 points, eight rebounds, and a playoff career-high 12 assists despite Jayson Tatum’s absence.
