Brad Stevens isn’t spending much time fretting over what the Jaylen Brown trade may have done for the Philadelphia 76ers.
That move already carried real weight on its own. Brown was recognized as one of the greatest Boston Celtics of the modern era, so sending him out was never going to be a small decision. But the ripple effect got bigger after the 76ers doubled down and signed LeBron James, setting up a team that now includes Brown and the rest of Philadelphia’s elite core.
From the outside, it can look like Boston helped fuel a rival’s rise. The Celtics, though, don’t seem interested in treating it that way. Stevens’ message is simple: the trade happened, and the focus now is on the roster Boston has in front of it.
That means the Celtics are not publicly dwelling on the idea that they strengthened the 76ers. It’s a tricky situation, especially with Brown expected to face Boston in the 2026-27 season while flanked by a loaded group in Philadelphia. But Stevens made clear where his attention is aimed.
“Our focus is on us, and obviously, we look forward to all the challenges. Obviously, there are a lot of good teams around the league, but we have to do what's in the best interest of us, both short and long-term, and that was the decision; we went through that in July,” Stevens said in the introductory presser for Mike Conley and Paul George.
The Celtics will have to live with the fallout, at least on paper, because LeBron James ended up with the 76ers after the Brown trade changed the landscape. And since Boston and Philadelphia are in the same division, those meetings will come often.
For now, though, Stevens is keeping the public posture steady: Boston made its call in July, and he’s not showing any concern about the way it may have helped a rival.
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Knicks Just Set Up A Sneaky Camp Battle For One Roster Spot
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For New York, the real interest is less about the paperwork than the camp competition it sets up on the back end of the roster. Eubanks gives the Knicks another experienced frontcourt name to evaluate, while Robbins joins the mix as a developmental big who could stick around the system in some form, and the group of waived signees now has a path to work with Westchester and chase bonus money along the way. It is the kind of late-summer roster maneuvering that often looks routine on the surface but can determine which prospects stay in the building when camp gets serious. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Have One Roster Decision Nets Fans Will Notice
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Gabe Vincent is among the names the Knicks remain in touch with, and the same goes for a couple of big men who could add depth if the fit and timing line up. For a team that has spent much of the offseason fine-tuning the edges of the roster, the next decision or two could matter more than usual, especially with the Nets making their own headline-grabbing additions across town and the New York rivalry carrying its usual extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Put Their Final Frontcourt Spot In Play
The Knicks are still sorting out the back end of their frontcourt, and Drew Eubanks is now in the mix. New York brought in the veteran center on a non-guaranteed contract, giving him a chance to win a roster spot in training camp while the team continues to shore up depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond.
With room for one more veteran minimum deal, the Knicks appear to have a clear opening for a third center if Eubanks can hold up his end of the competition. He brings NBA experience from multiple stops, and for a club trying to cover itself across a long season, that kind of low-cost insurance can matter more than it looks on paper. [Read more 🡒]