The Celtics are among the teams that have made a trade offer for Kevin Durant, but their pursuit of a talent upgrade may put team chemistry at risk. In a brief interview posted by NBC Sports Boston, Jayson Tatum talked about how long it took for the team to come together last season and how fragile chemistry can be.
“Chemistry is half the battle,” he said (video link). “You can have a great team with great talent, and not necessarily jell well together. You guys saw, we figured it out in January and never looked back.”
The Celtics struggled through the first part of last season, but were dominant over the second half on their way to the NBA Finals. They have been able to upgrade their roster so far this offseason by adding Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari without giving up significant rotation players.
There’s more from Boston:
- The Celtics need to “tread very carefully” with the idea that they’re willing to trade Jaylen Brown, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon says on Brian Windhorst’s Hoop Collective (video link). Brown was the most valuable asset in Boston’s reported trade offer, which was turned down by the Nets. MacMahon notes that Brown is underpaid for his production, and the size of his contract doesn’t make an extension worthwhile. MacMahon also warns that Brown will have “several attractive options” when he hits free agency in 2024.
- Matt Ryan is coming off a strong Summer League performance, but his options for making the roster are limited now that the Celtics have filled both two-way slots, Brian Robb of MassLive writes in his latest mailbag column. Ryan, who ended last season on a two-way deal, can hope for an Exhibit 10 contract, but Robb notes that he’ll be competing for roster spots with Brodric Thomas, Justin Jackson and whatever free agents the team adds before the start of training camp.
- Like many teams, the Celtics are moving slowly in filling out their roster, Robb adds. Boston still has three spots open, and most of the free agents remaining on the market will likely sign veteran’s minimum contracts. Robb suggests Boston might keep a roster spot open past the cutdown date in hopes of landing someone who gets waived by another team.
When you trade young talents for old superstars, you don’t use the word “carefully”
You use the word “championships”
Matt Ryan showed he can shoot & that he’s big enough & strong enough. Give him a shot.
Go Celtics!
Even if he doesn’t make it with the Celtics, he always has his fall back job of QB of the Falcons.
Yeah yeah…lame joke I know.
“Tread very carefully”…Brown’s name has come up at least 3x in the past few years as trade bait as BOS has pursued superstars. They have trampled their relationship with Jaylen so when the time comes he will be doing what is best for him and, perhaps, with a little bit of spite.
It’s fascinating how much you know about the situation just from reading a few clickbait articles.
OrienGreene – It really is amazing how much ink this non-story is getting. The beat writers really don’t have anything better to do than continue to push this crud.
Brown has already stated that is unappreciated and won’t sign an extension! You to trade him but in no way, shape or form do I give up Smart in the same trade! Boston has no choice! Brown, White and Pritchard with two 1st is very fair for both sides! Brown is my favorite player but he is second best on this team!
If thats true, and Boston has no choice but to trade Brown… but the Nets reject this offer… now what?
I get what your saying, that the offer seems fair. But the Nets apparently don’t like it. So do the Celtics just move on and go with what they got? Or do you think they still have to find some trade for Brown?
Thec’s – That’s totally false.
Some reporter put that out there but Brown himself recently stated that he loves playing in Boston and wants to stay long term.
Brown is a pro, he knows full well he’s coveted by a lot of other teams. However I don’t see him leaving which should be a championship quality squad! He’s highly intelligent and I’m pretty sure he knows he’s as good as Tatum is, and will want to prove his point in the next couple of years
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Brown is the most underrated player in the NBA. He’s the most reliable, complete two-way player outside of maybe Embiid and KD..And throw in Jimmy Buckets too, but I think Brown has caught up to Jimmy..
“He’s the most reliable, complete two-way player outside of maybe Embiid and KD.”
There is this one dude in Milwaukee…
There are a lot of people, including NBA players saying how underrated Brown is. With so many saying it… how can he still be underrated? Underrated by who?
Were I given the dilemna of trading either Brown or Tatum, I keep Brown IF he’s willing to sign an extension. From everything I hear, this site and others, he can’t wait to high-tail it out of Boston. When backed into a corner like that, you do what the Red Sox did with Mookie Betts and trade him.
Well, us real Boston Celtics fans love Jaylen Brown (although a few bigots may not).
And the only place I’ve heard about Brown wanting to leave is from sports writers who make livings by stirring the pot, spreading rumors, maybe even making them up! All I’ve heard from Jaylen himself is he’s “perplexed” by that rumor.
Problem is these sports writers have the power to make players unhappy with their twisted crap, even lies, they spread.
Brad Stevens now should be talking to Jaylen Brown & assuring him the Boston Celtics & Celtics fans need & want him after this latest crap got spread by the pot stirrers.
Go Celtics!
“Chemistry is half the battle,” he said (video link). “You can have a great team with great talent, and not necessarily jell well together. You guys saw, we figured it out in January and never looked back.”
So true …. so true …. chemistry is not an easy thing to put together. Just as Lakers. Bklyn, Sixers. Takes more than talent.