There appears to be a difference in what Jaylen Brown says behind closed doors and what he divulges to Celtics president of operations Brad Stevens.
Tracy McGrady, who has mentored the Boston superstar, said Tuesday that Brown is frustrated with the only team he’s ever played for his in his career, while Stevens said Wednesday during his end-of-season press conference that Brown has not revealed any lingering issues to him.
“His frustration lies deeply in the organization and other things that we really don’t have the details. It’s just a lot of stuff I’ve been hearing just going on with the Boston organization with JB,” McGrady said Tuesday on his “Cousins” podcast with fellow ex-NBA star Vince Carter.
“I think part of him is like, ‘I showed you guys more of who I am as a basketball player not only what I did on the basketball court but the leadership I displayed within this team and you’ve seen that.’ Not having our best player in (Jayson Tatum). You’ve seen a different side of me and what I’m able to bring to the game of basketball. So, all that stuff just came into play with him and his frustration.”
Stevens said he has not had a lengthy sit-down with Brown since Celtics’ tough Game 7 home loss to the 76ers, a series Boston led, 3-1, but he didn’t catch that vibe.
“I talked to Jaylen Monday a little bit after, just real quickly and it was nothing but positive. He has not expressed those frustrations to me,” Stevens said.
“We’ve been here 10 years together, and I do think that — obviously I love JB and everybody around here loves JB. Just like any of our other guys, as we get to the end of the season, I’ll be here and my door is always open if anybody ever wants to come in and talk about it. Talk about their team, their place, whatever the case may be, I’m all ears. … None of (the frustrations) have been expressed to me.”
McGrady’s remarks certainly open the door for a potential trade-rumor-filled offseason for Brown, especially in light of the Celtics blowing their first-round series.
Brown had to carry the load this year with Tatum missing most of the season in his return from tearing his Achilles tendon, and he responded with a career-high 28.7 points per game.
His brilliance helped the Celtics unexpectedly grab the East’s No. 2 seed, but the bitter ending to the season could change things in Boston.
Since their 2024 championship run, Boston has now been upset before the Eastern Conference finals in back-to-back years, both as a heavy favorite.
Stevens has shown he’s willing to make drastic changes, including shipping off veterans last offseason to get under the luxury tax, and some have wondered if he could plan another big move.
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the top trade target in the league, and a player of Brown’s caliber certainly would be enticing if Boston wanted to shake things up.
There’s also the chance that this run without Tatum has Brown feeling he should be the alpha on a roster and perhaps he’s eyeing his own team he can lead.
Brown recently called this season his “favorite year” of his career calling the roster a “special group.”
“Being able to just be a part of a group, through the uncertainty came to fight, came to compete, came and went to war,” Brown said on a Twitch stream. “I’ll take a team like this any day of the week.”
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