Jaylen Brown, Derrick White commerce rumors shot down by Celtics govt

Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren dismissed the flurry of rumors surrounding the Celtics doubtlessly buying and selling Derrick White and Jaylen Brown.

“These two guys are actually, actually nice NBA gamers,” Zarren mentioned. “There hasn’t been something near critical about buying and selling them. And so I’m undecided all this reporting got here from. However these guys are key elements of our workforce, and we’re fortunate to have them right here.”

All week, there was buzz that the Celtics would possibly commerce White or Brown forward of the draft for a younger prospect and draft capital because the workforce ready for a season during which Jayson Tatum may very well be totally sidelined with an Achilles rupture.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania doubled down on the league-wide curiosity forward of the draft: “The Celtics are getting provides, calls on each Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Their choice has been to maintain each gamers. They’re listening, however will a workforce get there?”

The Celtics have loads of inquiries to reply this offseason — Luke Kornet and Al Horford are each unrestricted free brokers, and there are questions relating to whether or not new acquisitions Georges Niang and Anfernee Simons will stay on the roster.

“As you have a look at the remainder of the workforce and what we’re making an attempt to do, there’s no query our priorities could be to convey Al and Luke again,” Brad Stevens mentioned on Wednesday night time.