Jaylen Brown’s blockbuster exit from Boston marked a dramatic end to a decade-long relationship. The Celtics shipped Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, shocking the league and exposing a deeply fractured relationship behind the scenes.
Years of underlying friction and media speculation surrounding Brown’s chemistry with Jayson Tatum seem to have finally translated into a definitive organizational choice.
Instead of continuing to balance the All-NBA pair, the Celtics front office chose to pick their undisputed franchise cornerstone, sending the former Finals MVP to their divisional rivals.
Gary Payton Reacts to Celtics Choosing Jayson Tatum Over Jaylen Brown
The sudden fallout from Brown’s trade sent shockwaves through the league, triggering a stream of intense reactions from stunned executives and emotional fans.
During his recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Hall of Famer Gary Payton weighed in heavily on the Celtics’ decision.
“The Boston Celtics made that choice. They went with Tatum. That was who they had to be,’ said Payton. “I don’t think that relationship was really there…I don’t think that relationship could have gotten fixed”
“The crazy thing to me is that they shipped him in the Eastern Conference. I would have never shipped him in there to kill me. And I think he’s gonna be very, very angry about that, and every time he plays them, he’s gonna get at them.”
Payton also highlighted that if Philadelphia, currently one of the top three destinations on LeBron James’s list for his 24th historic season, can land the 41-year-old veteran, the power in the Eastern Conference is about to shift.
“If they get a boy like LeBron to come over there, they’re gonna be very scary, because they got four guys now. That’s very scary. And if they keep them all on the floor, it’s gonna be hard to beat the 76ers.”
Payton criticized Brad Stevens’ decision to keep the superstar guard in the same conference, arguing it will only fuel Brown’s motivation for a massive revenge tour.
He will arrive in Philadelphia after putting together a monster, MVP-caliber campaign last season.
In 71 games, the 5-time All-Star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 47.7% from the field, 34.7% from beyond the arc, and 79.5% from the charity stripe.
The Celtics’ management took a high-risk gamble by swapping the 29-year-old star for 36-year-old Paul George. While they may have avoided a massive salary cap hit from Brown’s extension, they broke up their golden duo, a combination that won their 18th NBA championship.
Now that the ball is in Philly’s court, the front office should find a perfect plan that maximizes Brown’s elite on-court playmaking alongside core elements like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
