Appearing at an introductory news conference Tuesday more than two months after being traded from Philadelphia to Boston, the veteran forward Pavel George admitted that he was aware of how unpopular he was Jaylen Brown trade was among Celtics ventilators. While he doesn’t promise to replace the production of a player who finished sixth in last season’s MVP voting, George noted that he hopes to prove the Celtics’ front office didn’t make a huge mistake by acquiring him, per Kyle Hightower of the Associated Press.
“I understand my circumstances. I understand how big JB was not only for the organization but here in town. So I didn’t take it personally.” – said George. “Honestly, they have to relate, emotionally, to this trade. But my job is to get a great opportunity for me.
“Obviously, the last few years have been tough, just with the injuries. But for me personally, I’m feeling great again. I feel like I’ve turned that corner with the injuries and now, kind of building myself up from a physical standpoint again. And with that, I can carry that over to the court.
“… This is a new group, a new opportunity. I think they are getting, someone is ready, not to fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think, from a personal point of view of myself, I think I can enter and still keep us in this fight. Give us a chance to win.”
George is a nine-time All-Star who also made the All-NBA team six times, but at age 36, he considers himself an extra player next to the Celtics’ true superstar, as Christian Clark of The Athletic relay.
“We have a superstar and that’s JT (Jason Tatum)” George said on Tuesday. “I’m not here to steal the shine or try to reinvent who I am. I’m here to help JT, and he’s that guy. I’ve played with another superstar wing and we’ve had a great time. I personally see that with JT.”
We have more on the Celtics:
- Tuesday’s press conference was originally scheduled to introduce George, Mike Conley, and Mitchell Robinsononly George and Conley were able to attend, while Robinson missed the event due to personal reasons, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. Still, Himmelsbach notes that the Celtics’ new center has been participating in unofficial team workouts this month.
- Earlier rejecting him last week Hawks given protection Devin Carter listening permission for multiple teams, according to Mark Stein of The Stein Line (Link to substack). Carter is over signing Annex 10 contract with Boston, giving him a path to the standard or two-way roster. Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston looks at what the 2024 lottery pick could bring to the team and considers whether Carter will open the season with the Celtics.
- Although ESPN’s Zach Crum liked the Celtics’ four-year extension. Nehemiah of Quetta and the fact that they traded Robinson to the conference rival Knicks, he gives the team a C-minus grade for its performance in the offseason, largely due to Brown’s lackluster return.