The Boston Celtics’ attempt to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo put Jaylen Brown’s name at the center of trade discussions. However, that pursuit failed, as Antetokounmpo is headed to the Miami Heat, and Boston’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens addressed the scenario with Brown on Tuesday night.
Brad Stevens Addresses Jaylen Brown Speculation After Failing to Secure Giannis Antetokounmpo
For now, Brown is a member of the Celtics, but how long that will remain the case is unclear after he watched his name surface in the Antetokounmpo trade rumors. Former NBA champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins even suggested that Brown may be ready for a fresh start, claiming the relationship between the two sides may have reached its limit.
“This relationship is over…” Perkins said “How many times is Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics gonna give Jaylen Brown a hug with a knife in his back?”
Shortly after Boston selected Chris Cenac Jr. with the 27th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Stevens faced questions from reporters, some of which centered on Brown and his future. He was asked whether he still believes Brown wants to stay in Boston, and he declined to reveal details of their private discussions.
“I’ll always keep our conversations private,” Stevens said. “I think it’s appropriate, regardless of what the content of those conversations is like, but what I said is really true. I don’t love the fact that anytime it’s a big public thing. As you know, we try to keep things as close to the vest and quiet as possible.
“At the same time, knowing that the rumor mill is the rumor mill, and there’s going to be a lot of noise out there, that’s why you meet and be as upfront as possible. But listen, I can’t say enough good things about Jaylen… but I certainly am empathetic towards probably what that’s felt like.”
Asked Brad Stevens about whether he still gets the sense that Jaylen Brown wants to be in Boston from their conversations:
“I’ll always keep our conversations private… I think it’s appropriate, regardless of what the content of those conversations are like, but I think what I… pic.twitter.com/khcjOmK1eS
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) June 24, 2026
Boston reportedly had no intention of including Jayson Tatum in any potential Antetokounmpo deal, making Brown the primary name connected to trade discussions. That came despite Brown posting career-best numbers this season, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while finishing sixth in NBA MVP voting.
Brown also carried a larger leadership role during Tatum’s absence, as Tatum appeared in only 16 regular-season games while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Even after the Antetokounmpo pursuit fell through, the Celtics have continued listening to offers involving Brown and were engaged in trade discussions as of Tuesday night, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Speculation is continuing, but Stevens emphasized the importance of maintaining clear communication with Brown.
However, when asked directly if Brown would still be on the roster when the 2026-27 season begins, his answer sounded more cryptic.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said. “I’m never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys. But at the same time, I think the one thing that I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been.
“He’s been amazing. Whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. But I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as this is our team.”
Brown is in the middle of a five-year, $285.39 million supermax contract with the Celtics, which runs through the 2028-29 NBA season.
