The Celtics were predictably uninterested in continuing trade conversations with the 76ers when they demanded Jaylen Brown in exchange for Ben Simmons, according to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.
On Thursday morning, Brad Stevens told 98.5’s Toucher and Rich that he reached out to Brown to make sure his star wing wasn’t concerned about recent swirling rumors. The Celtics were never going to budge on a deal that moved Brown for Simmons for many reasons, not least of which being Brown’s production as a scorer (significantly higher than Simmons) and his cheaper contract (Brown is in the second year of a four-year, $106 million deal while Simmons is in the second year of a five-year, $177 million deal).