Jayson Tatum on Javonte Green trade: 'Didn't see that coming'

Jayson Tatum is upset that his close friend got traded to the Bulls. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Jayson Tatum on trade of good friend Javonte Green: 'Didn't see that coming'

Originally posted on Game 7 | By Anthony Amador | Last updated 3/27/21

The Boston Celtics were expected to be extremely active ahead of this past Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. Between the team’s struggles thus far this season and all the assets at their disposal, big deals seemed inevitable.

Of course, as has become the norm for Boston, as the deadline came and went, the front office only made a single notable move: the acquisition of Evan Fournier from the Orlando Magic.

Beyond that, the Celtics also engaged in a three-team swap that sent Javonte Green and Daniel Theis to the Bulls in return for Luke Kornet from Chicago and Moritz Wagner from the Washington Wizards.

On Friday evening, Jayson Tatum revealed that Green was actually one of his good friends and that he was extremely upset about him getting dealt.

In Tatum’s own words, he “didn’t see that coming.”

Jayson Tatum talks about how tough it was to see his close friend Javonte Green traded on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/lQlJMLkrT4

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 27, 2021

Tatum said:

“I didn’t see that coming. Woo (Green) is someone that I’m super, super close with. I loved having him around. So, that was tough for all of us, especially myself. He’s someone I got really close with as a friend. Obviously, he helped us in our locker room and the time he did get an opportunity, but I guess it’s part of it.”

The Celtics are in a rough place. They can’t really win consistently, the team’s chemistry is all discombobulated and Danny Ainge is shockingly reluctant to make any significant moves. His bizarre reasoning for not acquiring James Harden when Boston had the opportunity to speaks for itself.

Between Ainge’s rants regarding the Celtics’ struggles, the team’s owner’s strange theories for why this year has been so disappointing and now Tatum’s sadness over his good friend being shipped out, it’s hard to see how Boston rights this ship before the playoffs roll around.

This article first appeared on Game 7 and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: