BOSTON — Tuesday morning marked the start of a new chapter for the Boston Celtics, as they introduced veteran NBAers and first-year Green Teamers Paul George and Mike Conley Jr. to the media. Before this next phase could begin, though, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens had to close the book on the Jaylen Brown trade.
In early July, Stevens moved Brown in exchange for George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks. This trade created a domino effect that ultimately encouraged future Hall of Famer LeBron James to team up with Brown and sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers. Stevens faced the media when Brown was initially dealt, yet he hadn't spoken to reporters since James went to Philly in late July.
I asked Brad Stevens how he weighed putting the Celtics’ interests first (by trading Jaylen Brown) against potentially making a rival better following the LeBron James signing:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) September 15, 2026
“Yeah, our focus is on us…And obviously, you know we will look forward to any challenges. And…
When asked how he weighed trading Brown against the consequences of potentially strengthening a division rival, Stevens emphasized that the Celtics were moving on, regardless of the threat the Sixers might pose.
"Our focus is on us," he told Celtics Wire. "And obviously, we will look forward to any challenges. There are a lot of good teams all around the league, but we have to do what's best — what we think is in the best interest of us, both in the short and long term."
The two-time NBA Executive of the Year didn't elaborate on the "short and long term." He's largely covered that ground already. Losing Brown's contract opens things up financially in the years to come for the Celtics and allows them to afford some of their depth.
But, why did Stevens send Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, to an in-division rival? Stevens said himself in July that if he could have traded him to the Western Conference, he would have. The market for Brown may have collapsed, causing the C's to make a drastic deal before he was due a contract extension.
Brad Stevens on trading Jaylen Brown to Philly:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) July 6, 2026
“If I was being honest, if that exact deal came from a team out West and you were comparing the two, then you'd probably take the team out West, but that's not the way it worked.” pic.twitter.com/HBn55MG3H2
"So that was the decision, and we went through that in July," Stevens concluded.
Instead of dwelling on Brown, Stevens opted to focus on the future of the Celtics. He praised George, Conley Jr., and center Mitchell Robinson — who was planning to be at Tuesday's presser but had to cancel because of personal reasons — while sitting at the podium inside the Auerbach Center.
"Today is about Mike, Paul, and Mitch, who's not here, and making sure that we are ready to put our best foot forward," he said.
The excitement of a new season will help Stevens and company progress and forget about the trade saga. However, if the Celtics falter, or the Sixers thrive, escaping questions about Brown will prove difficult. That is where part of the gamble of this move becomes apparent.
To truly move forward, the Celtics need to advance in the standings, or at least sit close to the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. Dropping in the East rankings or failing to contend for a championship next season, regardless of the big picture the Celtics have planned internally, will bring backlash galore for the front office and have fans stuck in the past.
They may wonder "what if" rather than excitedly asking, "What's next?"
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics president Brad Stevens explains why he traded Jaylen Brown to a division rival
