In a question that would make Red Auerbach scream up blood at you in pure confusion, have the Celtics make it known that they’ve taken themselves out of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes via… Twitter?
With the 82-game slate dropped last week, a Friday tweet from the official account of the Celtics told fans to secure their seats for the 2022-23, and did so with a graphic featuring Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Secure your seats for the 2022-2023 season ☘️
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 19, 2022
🎟: https://t.co/UOM8EaegZf pic.twitter.com/KYgLeBTdzD
Hmmmm. *Eyeball emoji after eyeball emoji*.
Now, the obvious point to be made in shutting this theory down is that they have to include Brown in their promotional material right now because if they didn’t, it would only add fuel to the fire of the Durant rumors. Imagine not putting your second-best player in any sort of marketing for the 2022-23 season, especially on the heels of an NBA Finals run? It’s not like the Celtics are a one-man team and can and should only feature Tatum in their marketing. There’s also the fact that Brown is still under contract with the Celtics and that’s he’s, well, a very good basketball player for the Celtics. Leaving him out of any promo material is basically saying, “Yeaaaah, we’re not really sure what the plan is, so enjoy this team-sponsored confusion.”
Under normal circumstances and as healthy humans, I’d say that this is all noise and thus easily ignored. But this is the NBA, where literally everything is dissected to the core and none of us are healthy.
And the Celtics made it almost impossible to ignore this stuff when they essentially doubled down on the Jaylen love Sunday afternoon with a thread of Jaylen Brown pictures.
⚡️7️⃣⚡️ pic.twitter.com/uqpwMZ8mbw
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 21, 2022
August 21, by the way, is not Jaylen Brown’s birthday. That’s two months and change away. It’s not the anniversary of the Celtics drafting him back in 2016. It’s not even the anniversary of Brown’s big-money extension. This was an out-of-left-field appreciation post for the Celtics’ best player in the 2022 NBA Finals.
But this also might just be the Celtics’ best way of shooting down the rumors.
Brad Stevens could come out and outright say, “No, we’re not trading Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant,” but that opens the door to Stevens having to publicly shoot down every trade rumor that comes out for the rest of his tenure. It also puts him into a box where he can’t go back on that unless he embraces being a big ol’ liar like Henry Rollins circa ’94. That’s not necessarily the long-term business plan of any NBA exec worth a damn.
And the Nets, for what it’s worth, have felt like a team desperately trying to will leverage into existence when it comes to Durant and the overall direction of their team. The repeated mentions of Brown and the Celtics have started to feel more and more like a request (or beg, honestly) than an actual conversation, especially with Durant failing to drum up the interest the Nets probably projected when this trade demand first leaked.
The Celtics and Nets, by the way, will meet for the first time next season Dec. 4 in Brooklyn.
Celtics announce 2022-23 season schedule
October 2022
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 10: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics react during team introductions prior to Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Tuesday, Oct. 18 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Friday, Oct. 21 at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Oct. 22 at Orlando Magic (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Oct. 24 at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Oct. 28 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Washington Wizards (6 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
November 2022
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 19: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics defends P.J. Tucker #17 of the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Nov. 4 vs. Chicago Bulls (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Nov. 5 at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Nov. 7 at Memphis Grizzlies (9 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Nov. 9 vs. Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Nov. 11 vs. Denver Nuggets (7 p.m., NBATV/NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Nov. 12 at Detroit Pistons (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Nov. 14 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Nov. 18 at New Orleans Pelicans (8:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Nov. 21 at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Nov. 23 vs. Dallas Mavericks (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Nov. 25 vs. Sacramento Kings (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Nov. 27 vs. Washington Wizards (6 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Nov. 28 vs. Charlotte Hornets (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Nov. 30 vs. Miami Heat (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
December 2022
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 03: Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka talks with Jayson Tatum #0 during the first quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 03, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Friday, Dec. 2 vs. Miami Heat (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Dec. 4 at Brooklyn Nets (6 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Dec. 5 at Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Dec. 10 at Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Monday, Dec. 12 at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m., TNT)
Friday, Dec. 16 vs. Orlando Magic (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Dec. 18 vs. Orlando Magic (3 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Dec. 21 vs. Indiana Pacers (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Dec. 25 vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5 p.m., ABC)
Tuesday, Dec. 27 vs. Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Thursday, Dec. 29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
January 2023
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 03: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics dribbles downcourt against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 03, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Sunday, Jan. 1 at Denver Nuggets (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Tuesday, Jan. 3 at Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Thursday, Jan. 5 at Dallas Mavericks (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Saturday, Jan. 7 at San Antonio Spurs (6 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Jan. 9 vs. Chicago Bulls (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Jan. 11 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Thursday, Jan. 12 at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Saturday, Jan. 14 at Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Jan. 16 at Charlotte Hornets (1 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Thursday, Jan. 19 vs. Golden State Warriors (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Saturday, Jan. 21 at Toronto Raptors (5 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Jan. 23 at Orlando Magic (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Thursday, Jan. 26 vs. New York Knicks (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Jan. 28 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8:30 p.m., ABC)
February 2023
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 21: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts late in the first quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 21, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Wednesday, Feb. 1 vs. Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Feb. 3 vs. Phoenix Suns (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Feb. 6 at Detroit Pistons (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Feb. 8 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Feb. 10 vs. Charlotte Hornets (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Feb. 12 vs. Memphis Grizzlies (2 p.m., ABC)
Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Wednesday, Feb. 15 vs. Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Thursday, Feb. 23 at Indiana Pacers (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Feb. 25 at Philadelphia 76ers (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Monday, Feb. 27 at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
March 2023
May 21, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) react after making a basket against the Miami Heat in the third quarter during game three of the 2022 eastern conference finals at TD Garden. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)
Wednesday, Mar. 1 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Mar. 3 vs. Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Mar. 5 vs. New York Knicks (7:30 p.m., ESPN/NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Mar. 6 at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Mar. 8 vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Mar. 11 at Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Monday, Mar. 13 at Houston Rockets (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Wednesday, Mar. 15 at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Mar. 17 at Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Saturday, Mar. 18 at Utah Jazz (9 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Tuesday, Mar. 21 at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Mar. 24 vs. Indiana Pacers (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Mar. 26 vs. San Antonio Spurs (6 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Tuesday, Mar. 28 at Washington Wizards (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Thursday, Mar. 30 at Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Friday, Mar. 31 vs. Utah Jazz (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
April 2023
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 27: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Max Strus #31 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Tuesday, Apr. 4 at Philadelphia 76ers (8 p.m., TNT)
Wednesday, Apr. 5 vs. Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Friday, Apr. 7 vs. Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Sunday, Apr. 9 vs. Atlanta Hawks (1 p.m., NBC Sports Boston)
Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Celtics.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
