In an offseason already defined by seismic roster shifts, the Boston Celtics front office just sent a clear message to the rest of the NBA: Jaylen Brown and Derrick White aren’t going anywhere.
Celtics Exec: “We’re Lucky to Have Them”
Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren directly addressed recent trade speculation surrounding Boston’s Finals MVP and their top two-way guard.
“Those two guys are really, really great NBA players,” Zarren said. “There hasn’t been anything close to serious about trading them. And so I’m not sure where all this reporting came from. But those guys are key parts of our team, and we’re lucky to have them here.”
After a week of noise that Boston could deal one—or both—for young talent and draft capital, Zarren’s comments throw cold water on the fire.
Celtics Still Drawing Leaguewide Trade Calls
That doesn’t mean the interest has stopped. With Jayson Tatum likely out all next season due to an Achilles tear, front offices across the league are circling, wondering if the Celtics might reset.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported:
“The Celtics are getting offers, calls on both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Their preference has been to keep both players. They are listening, but will a team get there?”
Still, Boston’s message is consistent. Even with Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday both traded this summer, the Celtics appear locked in on building around their proven core.
Celtics’ Foundation Still Strong, Says Stevens
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens confirmed where his focus lies:
“We’ve got the foundation. With Jaylen and Jayson and D-White and Payton and all those guys that a lot of teams love to have.”
And Stevens isn’t stopping there. He wants to keep the glue guys too—including free agents Luke Kornet and Al Horford.
“As you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there’s no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back.”
Boston Banking on Championship Core
Brown, who earned Finals MVP honors just one season ago, and White, one of the most consistent two-way guards in the league, are staying put. That’s the message from Boston’s front office—and a quiet warning to any team still hoping to pry away their stars.
Even with Jayson Tatum likely sidelined for the entire season, the Celtics aren’t shifting into rebuild mode. They’re holding onto the core that brought them a title, confident it still has enough to stay competitive in the East. The path ahead may be tougher—but in Boston’s eyes, the foundation is strong enough to weather it.
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