I don’t have any inside sources; I haven’t ever talked to Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, and I’m just going off what I’ve observed and what has been reported. But this whole situation doesn’t seem overly complicated. In fact, I think it’s all fairly straightforward, and it’s being spun out of control in the media because it’s an interesting subplot, and frankly, drama and rivalries move the needle.
Here’s my actual read on everything that has happened and where it stands. Again, I'm not reporting, this is just what I believe:
At some point, the Celtics’ front office made a decision to more or less move on from Brown. He didn’t fit Joe Mazzulla’s system and wasn’t an ideal complement to Tatum. They certainly didn’t think his value matched his contract, and they had no interest in giving him the 2-year, $140+ million extension he was about to be eligible for.
Brown likely demanded a max extension, which Celtics didn't want to pay
Brown was annoyed and frustrated that after his great season and Tatum’s injury, the team still valued Tatum more than him and wanted to build a team around JT with Brown in a complementary role, or no Brown at all.
At some point after the season, JB sensed which way the winds were blowing and expressed to the team that he wanted his max extension or wanted to be traded. The Celtics didn’t want to meet that demand (and perhaps others), and they wanted to build a team that was more suited to emphasize Tatum and Mazzulla, so they decided they had to trade him.
I imagine Tatum was largely aware of what was going on, as were most fans by this point, as most of it was being reported in the media. Could JT have stepped in and demanded that Brad not trade Brown? Probably. But he has never been that guy, and meddling in Brad Stevens’ business is not a great look or something that a player, even a star player, should be doing.
JT wasn't shocked Brown was traded, but was by destination and return
Then, the trade finally happened. Nobody was shocked at that point that he was dealt. By then, it felt like a matter of when, not if. But the actual deal, being to Philadelphia, and for that return, was pretty shocking. I don’t think Tatum was involved in trade talks and negotiations, so I tend to believe that he was genuinely caught off guard when he heard about the deal.
Brown was rightfully upset that the only team he had ever known no longer valued him the way he thought they should. The Celtics ruthlessly shipped him out of town and sent him to one of their biggest rivals for a return that was perceived around the league as very poor.
So, why is Brown's anger directed at Tatum?
So did Brown technically “demand” a trade? No. But his demands made trading him a necessity. Was Tatum shocked that he got traded? No. But he was shocked by the actual deal. Does JB have a right to feel disrespected by the Celtics? Sure. That’s human nature. Should he be mad at Tatum? That’s the part I don’t really get.
Unless there’s a big missing piece to the story, I don’t understand why Brown keeps going at Tatum. The organization clearly chose JT over JB, but is that Tatum’s fault? It’s not like he was going to Brad and demanding that they move Jaylen. It seems like there’s some pettiness and possible jealousy, as Brown was never Tatum’s equal on the court, but wanted to be treated as such.
And now, here we are. All in all, it’s a story that’s being blown out of proportion because it adds a fun new element to the rivalry. Hopefully, someday, these two can get on the same page and hash things out, because JB is a Celtics legend and always will be. Someday, he’ll be honored back in Boston and see his number go up in the rafters. But for now, that feels like it’s a long way away.
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