Stevens

BOSTON — Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and team owner Bill Chisholm want to make one thing clear: The decision to trade perennial All-Star Jaylen Brown wasn’t arrived at lightly.

But from their perspective, it was necessary to give the franchise the flexibility it needs to compete with the changing landscape of an NBA in which managing the team’s balance sheet will be more important than retaining multiple homegrown stars with pricey contracts.

That said, Stevens said Monday that he is fully aware of the criticism that surrounds Boston’s front office in the aftermath of its stunning decision last week to trade Brown to the Celtics’ division rival Philadelphia for Paul George and multiple draft picks.

“As Jaylen and I sat down in early June and we talked about potential future in Boston and elsewhere, I told him if we were ever to trade Jaylen that would be a sad day for me personally,” Stevens said. “And certainly the emotions that all of us have felt… I do think we are empathetic and understand. This is a really hard thing.”

Hard, but also what Stevens said the front office collectively deemed vital for the ability of the Celtics to compete going forward despite coming off back-to-back 50-plus win regular seasons following their 2024 NBA championship.

Trade is scary

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledged that change is scary as he switches teams for the first time after an extraordinary 13-year run with the Milwaukee Bucks.

But ending his career with regrets seemed equally frightening to the two-time NBA MVP.

As his trade to the Miami Heat was finalized on Monday, Antetokounmpo posted a video on YouTube in which he discussed his mixed emotions with former Bucks broadcaster Jim Paschke. He posted a shorter video on social media bidding farewell to Milwaukee.

“I’m scared that the grass is not always greener. … People love me here,” Antetokounmpo said in the interview with Paschke, which lasted nearly 37 minutes. “People respect me here. People allow me to be myself here in the city. And I’m scared that I might never find that ever again.”

The Bucks haven’t advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs since their 2021 championship and last won a postseason series in 2022. Antetokounmpo, who will turn 32 in December, said he’d wake up each day wondering if he needed a change of scenery to have a better shot at winning another championship.

Wants to stay

DENVER — Nikola Jokic reiterated his hope Monday to remain with the Denver Nuggets for the rest of his career.

His plan, though, is to hold off on signing his extension until next summer. The three-time NBA MVP spoke to the media after helping Serbia to a win over Bosnia-Herzegovina during a FIBA World Cup qualifying game in Belgrade, Serbia. Jokic finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

He reaffirmed his desire to remain in the Mile High City. By waiting until next summer, Jokic can sign a five-year supermax contract that would be worth around $350 million.