Inside The Rockets

Celtics Star Jaylen Brown to Rockets in 2023-24?

Could the Houston Rockets be the team to steal Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics as his unrestricted free agency peeks around the corner?

Matthew Legros

Winslow Townson/USA Today Sports
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The Boston Celtics owe much of their perennial championship contention status to 2023 NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown. The Houston Rockets covet the shooting guard, but can they find away for him to suit up in red next season?

ESPN 97.5 Houston reports that the Rockets front office may go in a different direction in the offseason, one that they'd love Brown to lead the way on:

Brown, 26, has entered his prime if not already. The former 2016 No. 3 overall pick is in the midst of a career year averaging 26.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. 

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has given Brown a rolling green light to work with, as he attempts 20.5 shots from the field per contest -- No. 6 league wide -- even with teammate and MVP candidate Jayson Tatum getting his own 21.2 attempts up nightly.

Brown is in a winning environment with all the responsibility a star player can handle. His Celtics were two wins away from the NBA championship in 2022 and see few peers in the Eastern Conference getting in their way this year.

If money could talk, it would be singing to Brown instead, as he's due for an excess of $30.7 million in 2023-24 -- the final year of his contract as he's slated to become an unrestricted free agent the following offseason. 

Boston is already on the books for roughly $155.5 million next year and has not cried over currently being in the luxury tax. Therefore there is little reason to see them cut numbers and diminish their chances at championship glory. Should they resign Brown at any point and give him a pay raise, the Celtics would at the very least be obligated to $149.7 million in 2024-25.

Houston would likely have to offer Brown a boatload of money and re-tool their roster to appeal to his thirst for a championship to facilitate any type of move in their favor, as the Rockets have been at the bottom of the standings three years running.

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Matthew Legros
MATTHEW LEGROS

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