Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens publicly expressed his appreciation for Jaylen Brown shortly before the organization traded the All-NBA forward to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Speaking on June 23, Stevens emphasized Brown’s importance to the franchise and praised his contributions throughout his time in Boston.
“The one thing I want to make very clear is how valued (Brown has) always been,” said Stevens. “He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate. Great person to be around. Whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires or before, there’s a lot to celebrate.”
Despite those comments, the Celtics agreed to trade Brown to Philadelphia just eight days later.
The decision followed Boston’s disappointing playoff exit, when the team surrendered a 3-1 first-round series lead against the 76ers.
The Celtics were also dealing with financial limitations, as Brown and Jayson Tatum were set to occupy approximately 70% of the salary cap.
According to The Athletic, Brown had requested greater recognition from the organization following a season in which he averaged 28.7 points and finished sixth in MVP voting.
Brown is now scheduled to face Boston for the first time since the trade when Philadelphia meets the Celtics on Tuesday.
