Brown camp rejects report he sought Celtics exit

A representative for Philadelphia 76ers forward Jaylen Brown called a report that Brown requested a trade from the Boston Celtics a "10000% a lie." The denial, provided to ESPN, followed comments on Monday by NBC Sports Boston analyst and former NBA player Brian Scalabrine.

Scalabrine said Brown had presented the Celtics with a list of demands and was "rooting to be traded to Milwaukee." He walked the characterization back before Boston's Monday game against the Chicago Bulls. "So technically, he did not demand to be traded," Scalabrine said, adding, "It was, 'Do these things right here or else.'"

The representative said Brown never asked to go to the Bucks. After a potential deal involving Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo fell through during the offseason, and Boston told Brown he would be traded regardless, Brown asked only to have input on where he landed. The representative said the other request Brown made was that he and Jayson Tatum receive equal treatment.

Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia during the offseason. The Celtics received Paul George, first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, and second-round selections in 2028 and 2030.

Brown and Tatum's relationship has drawn attention over the past week. Brown posted a blue hat emoji on Instagram, slang for "cap," or lying, after Tatum said in a YouTube video that he was "just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world" by the trade. Tatum said a day later, "There's no beef. It's not about that. It should be more praise."

Two days after that, Brown said there was "no beef" but added there "might be a little lamb chops and some gravy." He also said Tatum had a "hell of a PR team." Tatum said he would welcome a conversation with Brown. Asked if he would be open to one, Brown did not commit. "We both got so much stuff in front of us," Brown said.

Brown and Tatum played nine seasons together in Boston. Both were selected with the No. 3 pick, Brown in 2016 and Tatum in 2017. They reached five Eastern Conference finals, two NBA Finals, and won the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks.

Scalabrine said he had not "gotten to the bottom" of what demands Brown may have made and mentioned a possible $140 million extension. "I haven't gotten to the bottom of all that," Scalabrine said.