Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens addressed the media in a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Stevens started the presser by thanking former guard Jaylen Brown for all he did on the court and his contributions and impact off the court in the community.
The Celtics president admitted he has felt the weight of the trade, aligning with the impact Brown’s departure has had on the fanbase.
Stevens said in this era of basketball, depth has been a consistent factor among recent champions and teams vying for championships. He said the deal happened because of the return with which the franchise was presented.
The team president said the Celtics were looking for someone to make an impact now while also acquiring assets to build for the future, either internally or through future deals.
Stevens said the organization really likes Paul George, the player who came back to them in the deal from the Philadelphia 76ers. He added that George has already been in the building and around the staff.
The Celtics team president didn’t add too much more before turning it over to questions, but mainly talked about how the team is dealing with the emotional impact of trading Brown.
A reporter brought up the salary issues with the Celtics and pointed out that moving Brown didn’t get them out of the financial problem they are facing. Stevens added that, though the numbers overall look similar, they opted for George’s contract in part because it is shorter and he has only a player option for next season.
When asked if it was primarily a move to restructure the books, Stevens said no. He clarified that he felt it was more of a deal that allowed the team to play at a very competitive level while also giving them “optionality” moving forward.
Stevens was asked point-blank whether he thought this trade would make the team better next year. He said, “We’ll find out.” Upon clarification, he added there is still plenty of time before next season, with free agency still early, and he thinks this move, along with the direction they want to take the team, will indeed make them better and give them more flexibility.
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