Boston Celtics head coach 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 head coach admitted that he has felt the weight of the trade, aligning with the impact Brown’s departure has had on the fan base.
Stevens said that, 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 that the franchise was presented.
The head coach said they 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 head coach didn’t add too much more before turning it over to questions, just talking about how they are mainly dealing with the emotional impact of trading away 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 still at a very competitive level and also gave them “optionality” moving forward.
Stevens was asked point-blank whether he thought this trade would make the team better next year. He said, “We will see.” Upon clarification, he added that there is still plenty of time before next season, with free agency still early, and that he thinks this move, along with the direction they want to take the team, will indeed make them better and give them more optionality.
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