After the Boston Celtics introduced veterans Paul George and Mike Conley Jr. to the media, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins reminded everyone why team team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens is on the hot seat. After fans watched All-Star Jaylen Brown be sent to the division rival Philadelphia 76ers and the Celtics acquire George in a blockbuster trade, the pressure is on Stevens to prove why the shocking move was worth it.

Perkins, a 2008 Celtics champion, says George's 2026-27 season will be under a microscope, as fans will be quick to point the blame at Stevens if things go south, he said, per ESPN's NBA Today.

“They're actually playing to save Brad Stevens in my opinion,” Perkins said. “That seat ain't cold. He shouldn't be comfortable. If you think about organizations that had some horrible offseasons, and you think about him losing the Giannis sweepstakes to Pat Riley.

“Then, all of a sudden, having to trade Jaylen Brown to a division rival in the 76ers, somewhat, being responsible [for] the 76ers landing LeBron James. I know this Celtic fanbase. Brad Stevens, they want answers. And the answer is winning.”

Mitchell Robinson, another one of the Celtics president of operations Brad Stevens' free-agent signings over the summer, couldn't attend the press conference due to a personal matter. But is in town ahead of training camp, which is slated to begin in a couple of weeks.

Kendrick Perkins wasn't a fan of Paul George's Celtics press conference

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ESPN's Kendrick Perkins criticized Paul George's Celtics press conference, pointing to how he neglected to call himself a secondary superstar to Jayson Tatum. While many fans scoffed at George coming in as All-Star Jaylen Brown's replacement as the dust settled from the blockbuster trade in July, the 2008 Celtics champion center questioned George's passive tone ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Although George did allude to potentially winning his first championship with the Celtics, Perkins isn't convinced after watching the nine-time All-Star's first presser since the 76ers traded him.

“I didn’t see him winning the press conference because as a guy that played with the Celtics, the Celtic fanbase don’t want to hear that nonsense. It's certain cities that it's championship or bust. They want to hear you come in with a certain level of confidence that's saying I'm about to help elevate this organization, and get them back to where they need to be,” Perkins said. “And that's the ultimately goal of winning another one [championship].”

After Brown finished fifth in MVP voting last season, where he led the Celtics to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference standings, Perkins says the pressure also lies on Tatum to led his team in his first season without Brown.