NBA Notes: Celtics, Jaylen Brown, Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Pistons

Celtics

Celtics star Jaylen Brown remains extension-eligible this offseason, though there doesn’t appear to be much urgency from either side.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Brown could sign a two-year extension worth roughly $142 million beginning July 26 despite already having three years and nearly $182 million remaining on his current contract.

Waiting could ultimately prove far more lucrative.

If Brown holds off until next summer, he would become eligible for a three-year extension worth approximately $221 million.

Brown, meanwhile, is coming off arguably the best offensive season of his career.

With Jayson Tatum missing significant time following his Achilles injury and Boston reshaping portions of its roster, Brown averaged career highs in scoring and assists while helping lead the Celtics to 56 wins.

There was also recent outside speculation regarding Brown’s long-term happiness in Boston, though both he and Celtics president Brad Stevens publicly dismissed those rumors.

“He has not expressed those frustrations to me,” Stevens said.

Brown later addressed the topic himself during a livestream.

“I love Boston,” Brown said. “If it was up to me, I could play in Boston for the next 10 years.”

Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards becomes extension-eligible July 8, but league observers are already widely expecting patience from both sides.

According to Marks, Edwards can sign a two-year extension worth approximately $122 million this offseason.

However, there’s a much larger number potentially waiting down the line.

If Edwards earns All-NBA honors in 2026-27, he would become eligible for a four-year supermax extension worth roughly $300 million next summer.

That possibility alone likely makes waiting the smarter business decision.

Edwards already has three years remaining on his current contract, so there’s little immediate pressure for Minnesota to rush into negotiations.

As Marks essentially framed it: this may simply be a conversation that gets revisited next offseason instead.

Pistons

Ausar Thompson continues to emerge as one of the NBA’s elite young defenders.

According to Marks, Thompson’s breakout defensive season has positioned him for a potentially massive extension conversation with Detroit in the near future.

The second-year wing earned All-Defensive First Team honors and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Victor Wembanyama.

“As the season went on, you saw how much he impacted the game on both ends of the floor,” Pistons president Trajan Langdon said.

Thompson averaged 4.3 deflections per game, one of the top marks in the NBA, while holding opponents to just 42.7 percent shooting as the closest defender, according to GeniusIQ tracking cited by Marks.

Offensively, there’s still plenty of room for growth.

A large percentage of Thompson’s scoring continues to come around the basket, and his perimeter shooting remains a work in progress after attempting only 24 threes all season.

Even so, Marks pointed to Jaden McDaniels’ five-year, $162 million extension as a potential comparison point for Thompson’s next deal.

Given Detroit’s belief in Thompson’s upside, it’s easy to see why that number could eventually climb even higher.