The Boston Celtics rejected every trade call on Jayson Tatum while openly shopping Jaylen Brown, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Boston never considered trading Tatum and agreed to trade Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft picks.
“The Celtics received calls on Jayson Tatum over the last couple of weeks. They shut those down completely from my understanding,” Charania said, via RealGM. “But when it came to Jaylen Brown, they were open to listening and they have been for quite some time now.”
Brown never requested a trade from the Celtics despite being frustrated with the front office. Boston tried to trade Brown to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant in 2022 and offered the 2024 Finals MVP to the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After the Miami Heat acquired Antetokounmpo, the Celtics kept on attempting to trade Brown and they finally achieved their goal when the 76ers agreed to give them George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Multiple members of the Celtics perceived Brown’s comments about last season being the favorite season of his NBA career as a subtle shot at Tatum and weren’t happy, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal. That’s when Boston decided it was time to move on from Brown, sources said.
A gifted two-way forward, Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for the Celtics last season. Boston won 56 games and was the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs even though Tatum missed the first 62 games of the regular season recovering from his Achilles tendon tear.
Brown carried Boston on his back, which is why he was annoyed that the Celtics were dangling him in trades this offseason, sources said.
A five-time All-Star, Brown finishes his Celtics career with averages of 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in the regular season and 19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in the playoffs. He and Tatum led Boston to the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks.
Tatum will make $58.5 million next season, while Brown will make $57.7 million.
A six-time All-Star, Tatum holds career averages of 23.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in the regular season and 24.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in the playoffs. He’s now the sole face of the Celtics franchise with Brown gone.
The 76ers have a “Big 4” of Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. They are also trying to sign NBA legend LeBron James, who will not re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Celtics will be led by Tatum, George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and newcomer Mitchell Robinson next season.
Latest NBA News & Rumors At Dallas Hoops Journal
- New York Knicks ‘Have Shown Some Interest’ In LeBron James
- Golden State Warriors Don’t Believe They’re At Top Of LeBron James’ Short List
- Sources: Philadelphia 76ers Agree To 2-Year, $12.3 Million Deal With Anfernee Simons, Beat Out 5 Rivals
- LeBron James Would Have No Issues Playing With Jaylen Brown On Philadelphia 76ers
- Sources: Marvin Bagley III Agrees To One-Year Deal With Denver Nuggets
- Sources: Los Angeles Lakers Add Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili And Collin Sexton After Walker Kessler Trade
- Sources: Celtics Trade Jaylen Brown To 76ers For Paul George, Four Draft Picks
- Sources: Tobias Harris Agrees To Two-Year, $31 Million Deal With San Antonio Spurs
- Denver Nuggets Have Contacted LeBron James, Interested In Adding Him
- Sources: Boston Celtics Land Mitchell Robinson On Three-Year, $47.4 Million Deal
- Minnesota Timberwolves Interested In Signing LeBron James
- Washington Wizards Not Interested In Trading Anthony Davis
- Sources: Kawhi Leonard Traded To Toronto Raptors As Los Angeles Clippers Land Brandon Ingram, Draft Capital
