Celtics coach says team must forge new identity after Jaylen Brown trade

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Thursday that he is still processing the trade of longtime star guard Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, but he trusts basketball operations president Brad Stevens’ vision for the team. The Celtics received forward Paul George and draft assets in the deal, which Mazzulla described as “not a black-and-white type of thing.”

“The part that I hope gets talked about more … is the respect, the appreciation and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years,” Mazzulla said after a summer-league practice.

Brown, who averaged career-high numbers this season, expressed disappointment, telling streamer IShowSpeed that “there’s no loyalty, there’s no love” and that he felt “packed up” by the organization.

Mazzulla acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Brown’s on-court production and leadership, noting that the team will need new players to “be the best version of themselves” and help shape a different collective identity.

“We have a different roster. We have a different identity now,” he said. “The challenge lies in how we create that identity and end the season with a win.”

Stevens reportedly cited salary-cap considerations as a factor, noting that George’s contract is similar to Brown’s but includes one fewer season. The Celtics also added Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley in free agency.

Mazzulla reflected on the team’s recent playoff disappointment, including a blown 3-1 series lead, and said the organization must balance gratitude for past success with the need for improvement.

“There’s a feeling that goes into it … the quicker you can get to a level of gratitude, the better,” he added.

The trade marks the end of an era for Boston, where Brown helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals six times, the NBA Finals twice and win the 2024 championship.