Fans of the Boston Celtics now find themselves in an awkward position of agreeing with the same national media they spend the last week decrying. After a week of reports of star Boston forward Jaylen Brown's value being in the toilet due to advanced metrics, his contract situation, future earnings potential, and/or his tendency to express himself in the media and on his streaming channel, fans are hearing that same national media chastise the Celtics over the lack of a haul Boston came away with after dealing Brown.
And rightfully so for making a move that has been hailed as among the worst in the history of the team. Make no mistake about it, regardless of what utility spreadsheets can legitimately add to a basketball team, this was a colossal self-own no matter what such inputs hinted might make sense for Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and company with regard to Brown's future with the ball club. So why did they do it, then?
If you ask one member of said national media, the word of the day is 'duress'. On a recent episode of "SportsCenter," senior ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst laid out how he saw what went into the deal, and what he has heard about it from other ball clubs. "Other teams in the league felt like this looked like a trade that was made under duress, that you wouldn't make this trade if everything was equal," said Windhorst. "I look forward to hearing an explanation from the Celtics side because I cannot explain it on its face."
"Even if they wanted to move on from Jaylen Brown and even if they didn't like the offers that they had today, it doesn't make sense why this trade would have to happen now," added the ESPN reporter.
"Even if you believe that ... Brown had played his last game for you, there's no reason to feel any pressure to make this move on July 1st. I promise you that there would have been other opportunities. And not only that, to make it to a team that is in your conference, your division, a team that just vanquished you in the playoffs, the more you look at it, the more mystifying it gets. The Celtics are a team that is very studied, doesn't make any move without thinking it through."
And rightfully so for making a move that has been hailed as among the worst in the history of the team. Make no mistake about it, regardless of what utility spreadsheets can legitimately add to a basketball team, this was a colossal self-own no matter what such inputs hinted might make sense for Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and company with regard to Brown's future with the ball club. So why did they do it, then?
If you ask one member of said national media, the word of the day is 'duress'. On a recent episode of "SportsCenter," senior ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst laid out how he saw what went into the deal, and what he has heard about it from other ball clubs. "Other teams in the league felt like this looked like a trade that was made under duress, that you wouldn't make this trade if everything was equal," said Windhorst. "I look forward to hearing an explanation from the Celtics side because I cannot explain it on its face."
"Even if they wanted to move on from Jaylen Brown and even if they didn't like the offers that they had today, it doesn't make sense why this trade would have to happen now," added the ESPN reporter.
"Even if you believe that ... Brown had played his last game for you, there's no reason to feel any pressure to make this move on July 1st. I promise you that there would have been other opportunities. And not only that, to make it to a team that is in your conference, your division, a team that just vanquished you in the playoffs, the more you look at it, the more mystifying it gets. The Celtics are a team that is very studied, doesn't make any move without thinking it through."
4 months ago
