Nikola Vucevic believes the monetary construction round Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown made it more and more troublesome for the Boston Celtics to take care of the depth required to assist two gamers on maximum-level contracts.
Chatting with SKWEEK, Vucevic mentioned he noticed indicators that Boston might ultimately face a serious roster choice, though he didn’t anticipate Brown’s eventual departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I feel there have been some indicators, principally as a result of the massive contracts and the NBA’s new guidelines made it troublesome for them to construct the workforce,” Vucevic mentioned.
“With Tatum and Brown each on such huge contracts, it wasn’t straightforward for them to suit the remainder of the workforce round these two. However whereas I used to be there, did I sense something between the gamers or any form of issues? No, I truthfully didn’t.”
Vucevic’s feedback level to roster development relatively than any reported battle between Boston’s two longtime stars. Brown averaged 28.7 factors, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 video games through the 2025-26 season, incomes All-NBA Second Team honors and ending sixth in MVP voting.
Tatum, in the meantime, was restricted to 16 video games however averaged 21.8 factors, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Boston nonetheless completed 56-26, second within the Japanese Convention and 4 video games behind the conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
The Celtics’ supporting forged additionally relied closely on gamers who carried vital roles. Payton Pritchard averaged 17.0 factors and 5.2 assists in 79 video games, whereas Derrick White averaged 16.5 factors, 5.4 assists and 1.3 blocks and was chosen to the All-Defensive First Workforce.
Vucevic joined Boston late within the season and appeared in 16 video games, averaging 9.7 factors and 6.6 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. The Celtics later reached the primary spherical of the playoffs, the place they lost to the 76ers in seven games after profitable the primary recreation of the collection.
Boston’s offseason in the end introduced the main change Vucevic had not anticipated. On July 6, the Celtics traded Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, two future first-round picks and two second-round choices, ending the Tatum-Brown partnership after a decade collectively.
“I used to be as shocked as everybody else when the commerce occurred, regardless that there had been a lot written about it within the media,” Vucevic mentioned. “However loads of issues get reported and don’t find yourself taking place.”
The commerce reshaped each Atlantic Division rivals. Philadelphia paired Brown with Joel Embiid and LeBron James after ending 45-37 and seventh within the Japanese Convention final season, whereas Boston moved ahead with Tatum because the centerpiece and George as essentially the most outstanding addition.
