What Cedric Maxwell told Jaylen Brown about Jayson Tatum’s Celtics return from injury

Boston Celtics two-time champion and radio broadcaster Cedric Maxwell believes that Jaylen Brown leading the Celtics to one of the NBA’s best records last season prompted Jayson Tatum’s return in March. Celtics’ Maxwell told ClutchPoints he’s still in awe over the franchise’s trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, which he says set the stage for LeBron James’ shocking announcement. James plans to play at least two seasons alongside Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid with the Sixers.

The decision increases LeBron’s chances of capturing a fifth NBA title, which Maxwell believes no other team could have made a better pitch, considering the 76ers’ well-balanced roster of young and experienced players. While reacting to the news following the Celtics’ blockbuster trade, Cedric recalled a conversation he had with Brown on the night Tatum made his 2025-26 regular-season debut in a 120-100 win against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6.

“I remember walking to Brown the first game that Tatum came back,” Maxwell said. “And before the game started, I walked up to him and said, ‘You’re the reason why Tatum came back.’ Because if Brown had not led this team to win so many games, Tatum probably would have been out for the entire year. I think it accelerated his comeback in the fact that now, OK, I’m coming back to play for something.”

Jayson Tatum flirted with a triple-double, logging 15 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in 27 minutes. The encouraging performance was followed by five consecutive 20+ point games, including a 24-point double-double (10 rebounds) in a 120-99 win at home against the Golden State Warriors.

The Celtics (56-26) finished with the fourth-best record in the association and the second-best in the Eastern Conference behind the Detroit Pistons (60-22).

After Game 6 of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Jayson Tatum’s season was over. Boston won three of its first four games in its opening-round series against the Sixers, but failed to close it out, losing Game 7, 109-100. For many, this forced the Celtics front office to part ways with Brown ahead of the 2026-27 season.

However, according to reports stating that the Celtics engaged in talks with the Warriors before last season’s trade deadline, some believe they were ready to part ways with Brown regardless. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens revealed how the NBA’s second apron factored into the tough decision to abruptly split their Brown-Tatum tandem after a 10-year era.

While Maxwell reflected on why the Celtics traded Brown and understood the financial burden that lay ahead, he’s still processing how Stevens decided to make the move with the 76ers.

“I think that was the biggest shock when I think about who Brad is and what happened,” Maxwell said. “To go to Philly, a team that I’ve always hated, a team that is a rival, a team that just beat you. To send one of your best players to that particular team and get back Paul George, but I think, again, it comes down to salary-cap flexibility and getting opportunities. Even with the draft picks, you’re talking about, some of them are 2031; we’re going that far ahead with your draft picks.”

Despite the pair’s ability to lead the Celtics to six trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, two Finals appearances, and one title in 2024, Stevens pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade with the 76ers, landing Paul George and two first-round picks in exchange for Brown.

As Boston turns the page toward a new era, competing against Brown, James, Maxey, and the Sixers, it adds an intriguing wrinkle to the Celtics’ foreseeable future against Atlantic Division rivals the 76ers and the defending-champion New York Knicks.

Cedric Maxwell addresses 76ers’ concerns ahead of 2026-27

While Cedric Maxwell is still scratching his head over the Celtics’ trade with the 76ers for Paul George and assets in exchange for All-Star Jaylen Brown, he addressed Joel Embiid’s health ahead of the 2026-27 season. Embiid played a vital role in the 76ers overcoming a 3-1 deficit in their opening-round series. However, Joel’s health limited his impact in the Sixers’ second-round series versus the Knicks.

Embiid, dealing with ankle and hip injuries, succumbed to Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Knicks’ stifling defense in a 4-0 sweep. Maxwell, while wondering how the 7-foot center will bounce back next season, believes the 76ers could rely on LeBron James to help Embiid at center.

“If Embiid doesn’t play as many games in the NBA now, you can step out there and play him at center,” Maxwell said. “The NBA doesn’t have those dominant players in the post. You think about Jokic, Anthony Davis, the alien [Victor Wembanyama], but you watched the Knicks beat him up; so he played out in the post. So, there aren’t the dominant post players anymore that LeBron would have to go against when you think about the Eastern Conference.”

Embiid has never reached the Eastern Conference Finals. With the 76ers projected to make a deep run in the playoffs, Embiid’s health will be vital amidst the team’s championship aspirations.

“You have to tell me how many games Joel Embiid is going to play,” Maxwell said. “And how many healthy games can he play? If Joel Embiid plays 70 games and is healthy, now you’re telling me that Philly’s going to make some moves. How is Tyrese Maxey going to play off the ball with Jaylen Brown? Those are going to be opportunities that you see. How are those two guys going to mesh together when you think of Tyrese Maxey, who’s a volume shooter? Jaylen Brown: a volume shooter.”

One of the more underrated signings this offseason was the Celtics’ three-year deal with Mitchell Robinson. The 2025 champion center proved to be a constant thorn in the side of Embiid. Now, the addition of Robinson should bolster the Celtics’ high-ranking defense while giving them one of the NBA’s better offensive rebounders. He finished fifth (4.2) last season.

Robinson gives the Celtics another defensive-minded center alongside Neemias Queta. Boston also inked veteran Mike Conley Jr. to address its backcourt. Adding depth ahead of Jayson Tatum’s first healthy season since 2024.

Jaylen Brown keeps it 100 about Celtics relationship with Jayson Tatum

Jaylen Brown didn’t hold back about his relationship with Celtics’ Jayson Tatum during his introductory press conference for the 76ers. Looking back on their 10 years with the Celtics, Brown said the bond between the two wasn’t always smooth over the last decade, but the respect remains.

“We won a championship together. Anybody that you win a championship with, you would think that’s what a brotherhood or a lifelong legacy would entail,” Brown said. “Obviously, there are ups and downs in any relationship, for sure. But on my end, it’s nothing but respect. Besides, when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well. But other than that, everything for me is just based on respect.”

When Jaylen Brown received the follow-up question asking if he’s spoken to Jayson Tatum since his trade to the 76ers, Jaylen replied, “Not really.” Still, he’s appreciative of his first 10 seasons with the Celtics, who drafted the 19-year-old guard with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft. It’s been over a month since his trade to the Sixers. Yet, Brown admitted he is still processing it all, while revealing how frustrated he was when he first learned about the deal.

Jaylen wasn’t quite sure who the first person to reach out was; however, he mentioned Tyrese Maxey as a strong possibility.

“When I first got traded, I just threw my phone across the room,” Brown said. “It might have been Max [Tyrese Maxey]. I think Maxey reached out to me first. He reached out and was like, “I was know it’s a lot of stuff going on right now, but we’re excited to have you.” Maxey and VJ were probably around the same time.”

Now, Brown speaks to some of his new teammates almost daily, he said, including LeBron James.

“We talk damn near every day, almost,” Brown revealed. “We got group chats — multiple now. We’re all trying to figure this thing out. LeBron is active in the group chat. So, we’re just all trying to get on the same page. Everybody knows how incredible the opportunity that we have. But we also have to put in the work. So my focus is on that, putting in the work, earning the respect from the city, from the coaching staff; everything, it takes time.

“So, I understand how that process of winning works. You gotta build from the foundation and build up. You can’t skip steps. So, we’re not skipping no steps, we’re starting early.”

Brown also took a moment to reflect on his past decade with the Celtics.

“I look back at the city of Boston, and I’m grateful,” Brown said. “I’ve been able to develop as a man, as a human being there. Spent a lot of time in the community, a lot of time at universities, studying, learning, figuring out how to approach how I wanted to go about my philanthropy. I figured out how I wanted to approach how to carry myself. A lot of my most important years, my most developmental years as a young man, I spent in Boston.

“I got there at 19. So, I didn’t do a four-year degree because I left early. So, I got my degree in Boston in a sense. I spent time there. So, the relationships are still there. The connection is still there. I’m looking forward to continuing my foundation work and expanding it here in Philadelphia. But I’m very grateful for my experience. My 10 years in Boston. 10 years is a perfect cycle. Perfect number for completion. We won a championship, and I have nothing but respect for Boston. But now, it’s time to move forward.”

Brown, ahead of his 76ers debut, says he’s taking things one day at a time in his new surroundings.

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