After the blockbuster trade that sent isaiah thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Celtics' Jaylen Brown is not sure whether the franchise still has the whole dynamic and culture imparted to them. It was a lot to take during the summer and when players were traded, it also means a new adjustment for the teams. But in the case of Isaiah, he was the face of the Celtics franchise and the column that seem to hold everyone together.
Jaylen Brown on trading Isaiah Thomas
Talking to the Complex Magazine, Jaylen Brown said the trade between Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving provided them with a big opportunity but has tragically changed the franchise's dynamic and culture.
"It changes the whole dynamic, the whole culture. We’ll see if it’s for good or bad, time will tell. But it’s still a little weird to me to be honest because when I came in everything they stressed was culture, environment, Celtic basketball," he said.
Part of feeling lost, according to Brown is the fact that he has established a brotherly relationship with Isaiah, saying he looked up to the player, admired him in ways he became a role model to Brown. He further added that it was said how Thomas was traded when he was trying to put his trademark on the franchise.
So what exactly does Jaylen Brown mean when he said trading Isaiah changed the culture? Yahoo! Sports explained it by citing players that represented the whole team like that of San Antonio's Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan, Steve Kerr, and Stephen Curry, and in the past, Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant.
Irving, Hayward, to build a new empire
Maybe it will work for Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to create a new culture in Boston, but that remains to be seen says, Brown. According to him, he remained in contact with his former teammate, even congratulating him when he got traded to Cleveland. But like what Thomas said before, basketball is a business and Danny Ainge made a business decision at his expense.
Brown thinks the same way, implying that when business matters are considered, loyalty is hardly considered when making the deal.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Thomas has moved on from the trade wherein recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers revealed that the player has made incredible improvement in just three weeks of rehabilitation. The Cavs have also expressed their confidence that he will be able to play before January 2018.
Did the Celtics make the right decision? Jaylen Brown thinks time will tell whether the team truly gambled on a better deal.
