Stevens
BOSTON – Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and team owner Bill Chisholm want to make one thing clear: The decision to trade longtime All-Star Jaylen Brown was not made lightly.
But from their perspective, it was necessary to give the franchise the flexibility it needs to compete with the changing landscape of an NBA where managing the team’s balance sheet will be more important than retaining multiple homegrown stars with expensive contracts.
However, Stevens said Monday that he is fully aware of the criticism facing Boston’s front office following last week’s surprise decision to trade Brown to the Celtics’ division rival Philadelphia for Paul George and multiple draft picks.
“When Jaylen and I met in early June and talked about the possible future in Boston and elsewhere, I told him that it would be a sad day for me personally if we ever traded Jaylen,” Stevens said. “And certainly the emotions that we’ve all felt… I think we’re empathetic and understanding. That’s a really difficult thing.”
Difficult, but also what Stevens said the front office viewed overall as crucial to the Celtics’ ability to be competitive going forward, despite posting two straight 50-plus win regular seasons following their 2024 NBA championship.
Trading is scary
MILWAUKEE – Giannis Antetokounmpo admitted change is scary as he changes teams for the first time after an extraordinary 13-year run with the Milwaukee Bucks.
But ending his career with regret seemed just as scary for the two-time NBA MVP.
As his trade to the Miami Heat was finalized on Monday, Antetokounmpo posted a video on YouTube in which he spoke to former Bucks broadcaster Jim Paschke about his mixed emotions. He posted a shorter video on social media saying goodbye to Milwaukee.
“I’m afraid that the grass isn’t always greener. … People love me here,” Antetokounmpo said in the nearly 37-minute interview with Paschke. “People here respect me. People allow me to be myself here in the city. And I’m afraid I might never find that again.”
The Bucks have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since their 2021 championship and last won a postseason series in 2022. Antetokounmpo, who turns 32 in December, said he wakes up every day wondering if he needs a change of scenery to have a better chance of winning another championship.
Wants to stay
DENVER – Nikola Jokic reiterated his hope Monday of staying with the Denver Nuggets for the rest of his career.
However, his plan is to postpone the contract extension until next summer. The three-time NBA MVP spoke to the media after helping Serbia to a victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina during a FIBA World Cup qualifying game in Belgrade, Serbia. Jokic finished the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
He reiterated his desire to remain in the Mile High City. If Jokic waits until next summer, he can sign a five-year contract with Supermax worth around $350 million.
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