After previously addressing the stunning deal, Brad Stevens offered more context and explanation on why he pulled the Jaylen Brown trade on behalf of the Boston Celtics.
In the latest video coverage by the Celtics All Access on YouTube, the franchise president gave an intriguing claim about why he had to do what was necessary for Boston by parting ways with Brown.
“It’s something that you have to just say, 'Do you think where we currently are and doing what we've done will get us to where we ultimately want to go?' If not, does it make sense to explore other pathways, even if that could be very tough in the near term?"
Brad Stevens, Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to 76ers in a shocker deal
The Boston Celtics officially traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two future first-round draft picks (2028 and 2031), and two future second-round draft picks (2028 and 2030).
The move left the entire basketball world shocked. Not only did Boston deal Brown to their longtime rival Philly team that had just eliminated them in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, but Brown was also coming off his best season.
He averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game over 71 appearances, leading the Celtics to a 56-win season despite Jayson Tatum only returning in March while recovering from an Achilles tear.
Reports have indicated that the Celtics were compelled to cut ties with Brown due to his staggering five-year, $285.4 million supermax contract impacting the team's flexibility and his controversial off-court claims, particularly Twitch livestreams.
The Celtics' decision to trade Brown to the 76ers is a massive gamble, and only time will tell if Stevens' vision pays off.