Former teammates still wrapping brains around the Jaylen Brown trade, and other Celtics observations from Summer League
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⋅ It was jarring to see former Celtics forward Jaylen Brown sitting with the 76ers contingent and watching his new team play a summer league game Saturday. During a break, Brown even walked on the court with Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse and had a picture taken holding his new jersey.
Among the Celtics, the shock from the seismic trade that sent Brown to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and four future draft picks has not worn off yet.
“It’s not easy,” center Neemias Queta said. “I think you feel for him. Obviously, it wasn’t easy for him as well, but at the end of the day, it’s part of the business. You know it can happen at any moment, but Jaylen’s a guy that you can’t replace in the city. Really, really hard to replace on the court as well. He did so much for Boston in general and he will definitely be missed.”
Forward Jordan Walsh became good friends with Brown, even appearing on a Twitch stream at his house.
“I’m missing a guy who I’m really close with, a mentor for me,” Walsh said. “He’s done a lot for me. Obviously, we wish him the best, but if we’ve got to see him on the court, he’s going to get the same treatment [as any opponent].”
⋅ Queta is excited to work with center Mitchell Robinson, the former Knicks big man who signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics earlier this month. Robinson is perhaps the best offensive rebounder in the NBA.
“A lot of boxing out at practice,” Queta said. “We’re going to both crash a lot. We’re going to teach each other a little bit of what we do best. I’ll just be positive. I’ve heard he’s a really positive guy and a really, really fun guy to be around.”
⋅ Walsh became a defensive weapon last season, but is focused on developing his offensive game so the coaching staff gains more trust in him at that end.
“It means being a threat at all points in the game,” Walsh said. “I feel like there were a lot of times last season where it’d be clutch moments where we needed a bucket and I’d have to get subbed out.
“When those moments come, I always want to be the best option. I want to be the best choice. So, for me it’s working on my shot, working on my handle, working on creating my own shot when I have those pockets.”
⋅ Celtics forward Jayson Tatum attended Friday’s opener against the Raptors, partly to support close friend and former Duke teammate Amile Jefferson, who is guiding Boston’s summer league team.
Jefferson said Tatum should benefit from returning to play 22 regular-season and playoff games this past spring after being sidelined due to his Achilles injury. The rust and nerves are gone.
“I think it was just a great head start on him getting back to who he is,” Jefferson said. “I think those games will be super impactful and important for him. I was really happy that when he came back, it looked like he didn’t miss a beat. He was playing hard, he looked like himself. He took a break after the season and now he’s hit the ground running and back to it.”
Jefferson said he has been impressed by Tatum’s pace and explosiveness in recent workouts.
⋅ This is Jefferson’s first time as a head coach, even if it’s only for a few weeks. When he thought about entering coaching after his brief career as a player ended in 2021, he spoke with his former coach, the retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski.
“Coach K has always been, ‘If you’re going to do this, do it to be a head coach,’ ” Jefferson said. “He always says he only hired guys who want to be head coaches. He had a real deep conversation with me about that, about you can’t be halfway in, you’ve got to be all the way in, and I’ve taken that everywhere I’ve gone.”
⋅ Second-year wing Hugo González got his first taste of the rumor mill last month when it was reported that the Bucks were seeking to acquire him in a deal for superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“It was tough, but it’s something that when you come to the NBA you know can happen, and it’s something that you’re exposed to,” the Spaniard said. “Obviously, it’s a league where you can get traded all of a sudden, and it’s something that you need to — if you want to play here, you need to know.”
Milwaukee ultimately traded Antetokounmpo to the Heat.
⋅ The 10-ounce wagyu cheeseburger at Bavette’s Steakhouse in Park MGM was excellent. Two patties were pressed and stacked atop a fresh bun, with sliced pickles and onions sitting under the burger and slices of melted American cheese on top. The burger arrived with a steak knife jammed down the middle, seemingly encouraging diners to cut the massive meal in half. The speakeasy-style vibe made everything taste better, too. The restaurant also has a location in Chicago, if you prefer temperatures below 110 degrees.
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