LAS VEGAS — In his first remarks since the startling trade of star guard Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Thursday that he is “still processing” the franchise’s decision but has faith in president of basketball operations Brad Stevens’ vision for the team.
The Celtics sent Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft capital. Mazzulla said many factors on and off the court contributed to such a major decision.
“When something like that happens, it’s not a black-and-white type of thing,” Mazzulla said after the Celtics’ summer league practice Thursday.
“The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we really want to focus on the most, is really just the respect, the appreciation and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years.
“He was a Celtic longer than I have been. He was here before me. He set the tone and started that, and was a part of special things, and continued that, and obviously was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have been. So that to me is what we have to focus on more: The respect as a competitor and the gratitude for what he’s done.”
Memorable moments from Jaylen Brown’s 10 seasons in Boston
As for Brown, he saw the move differently.
“I just got traded. … They packed me up, bro. It’s a crazy business, bro. Don’t become a basketball player,” Brown told streamer IShowSpeed while they watched the World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Morocco on Thursday and discussed his recent trade. “There’s no loyalty. There’s no love.”
When IShowSpeed asked Brown what happened, he said: “That’s a real good question. I think a lot of people wanna hear that — they asking that question right now. I don’t know. I got packed up.
“They packed me up, ‘Sayonara.’ … I’m outta here.”
For the Celtics, the stunning trade marked the end of an era. Brown finished sixth in MVP voting this season after averaging career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. During Brown’s 10 seasons in Boston, the Celtics never missed the playoffs. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals six times, the NBA Finals twice and won the 2024 championship.
“I think that’s one of the big questions, is, every time something like this happens, it’s like, how are you going to replace (him)?” Mazzulla said. “You’re not going to. Obviously, not only what he’s done in his career, but what he did this year, you don’t replace that. And I think that’s where it’s not a black-and-white thing, right? There’s two sides. There’s obviously a relationship there, and there’s things there, but there’s two sides to it.
“We’ve also brought in people. And so we have to have an understanding that we’re not asking anybody who comes back, whether it’s free agency, whether it’s (in a) trade, whatever, to be anything what he was because we are not going to do that. But they’ve got to be the best version of themselves, and they have to bring things to our team to try and help us become a better team.”
While detailing the reasons for the trade, Stevens stressed that the Celtics didn’t want to tie up such a big percentage of their salary cap in their two stars, Brown and Jayson Tatum. Though George’s salary is similar to Brown’s, he also has one fewer season left on his contract.
Mazzulla said he didn’t necessarily give input on the trade but was involved in conversations with Stevens during the process.
“Not input, just Brad comes to you and talks to you and gives you a breakdown and an understanding,” Mazzulla said. “And in moments like this, obviously, there’s great alignment within the organization, and there’s conversations that are always going to be had. But I think in moments like this, this is where you just trust, you listen, you trust, and you have an understanding for what they do. I think Brad has been the absolute best at what he does and there’s just a level of trust that goes into that.”
The Celtics also acquired Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley in free agency. Mazzulla said the team will need to create a new collective persona after experiencing so much success over the years with Brown next to Tatum.
“We have a different roster,” Mazzulla said. “We have a different identity now. I think there’s been a clear identity in the last 10 years with the roster that we have, especially the cornerstones of the organization, and now that identity is a little bit different. So the challenge lies in how do we create that identity? How do we establish that identity? And then how do we end our season on a win? Which is really hard to do, but that’s the challenge.”
Why did the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown?
Jay King and Jeshua Kidd
The Celtics were coming off two consecutive early playoff exits, which contributed to their decision to pull off such a major overhaul. This postseason, they blew a 3-1 lead during the first round, losing to the 76ers.
“To have such a great regular season, but then when you blow a 3-1 lead, that’s on everybody,” Mazzulla said when asked if he believed the team needed a shakeup. “That’s on me, that’s on the coaching staff, that’s on the players. … So I think you first have to have an appreciation for what we’re able to do from a competitive standpoint. And at the same time, have an understanding that the way we ended wasn’t good enough. And that starts with me, and then it goes to everybody.”
Mazzulla said the Brown trade was emotional for him.
“There’s a feeling that goes into it,” Mazzulla said. “There’s an emotion that goes into it. There’s a processing pattern that goes into it. The quicker you can get to just a level of gratitude — he made me a better coach. I know that for a fact. The way he pushed me, the way he pushed himself, the way he pushed the locker room, he made me a better coach, and that’s what you focus on.”
Mazzulla added: “I think when things happen like this, when it doesn’t feel hard, is when you’re not in it for the right reasons. And I think that’s where Brad is one of the best at, and this organization has been one of the best at. Of course, something like that is going to be difficult. But I think if you could just get through and act as if nothing happened, then that’s when I think that you’re not in it for the right reasons. So yeah, it was difficult. It will be difficult … but I think it will be difficult because of what Jaylen did for us as an organization, what he was able to do. You have to be grateful for that.”
Now, Brown has something to look forward to in Philadelphia.
“We could get Philly cheese steaks!” IShowSpeed told Brown.
Brown, nodding, said: “Yeah, for sure.”
