The Jaylen Brown situation poses broader questions around the Boston sports culture

We are all but a little more than a month-and-a-half removed from the Boston Celtics' improbable NBA Finals run to close out the 2021-22 season, and yet, the main storyline revolves around another marquee star possibly leaving the city.

After endless rumors, some of which have been going on since 2021, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that All-Star forward Jaylen Brown was offered in a deal for Kevin Durant, the pot-stirring future Hall-of-Famer who requested a trade on June 30.

The offer, which also allegedly included reserve guard Derrick White and a draft pick, was declined by the Brooklyn Nets, but the damage in my eyes was already done.

Sure, Brown already insisted on wanting to stay in Boston-even after the report came out-but there is no doubt this will leave an indelible mark on the franchise and maybe lead to future awkwardness as the team prepares for another run to the top of the Eastern Conference.

For me, the news begs a few different questions-not only specific to the franchise, but also more broadly related to Boston as a whole.

First and foremost, what the fuck was Brad Stevens thinking? Aside from a few trade exceptions, including the $17 million one from the Evan Fournier trade (which they eventually allowed to expire anyway), the Celtics didn't really have much at their disposal for a big-name free agent splash, or even a blockbuster trade for that matter. And for them, that's an okay place to be in, especially since they already addressed some scoring and carelessness issues by signing Danillo Gallinari to a team-friendly deal and trading for stable rock guard Malcolm Brogdon. Oddly enough, Brad was doing quite well this offseason.

Even after the C's fell at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, Stevens emphasized the need for a playmaker and some depth, but there was no indication of any earth-shaking move that would immediately change the culture of the team-which is what made the Durant news so dumbfounding. Why even attempt to trade a cornerstone franchise player who is still three years removed from his prime (and almost won Finals MVP) for an aging superstar who appears to spearhead drama everywhere he goes?

This question leads me to broader issues revolving around a city that is so hellbent on championship aspirations, that the players who try to make it happen are oftentimes merely seen as expendable pawns with a short self life if they don't immediately reach that goal. In other words, as I've grown older, I've realized that legends like Tom Brady and David Ortiz are aberrations.

Now, don't get me wrong, every organization in every city tries to build their franchise through any means possible-that's just the nature of sport. And to be fair, I've been a Boston sports fan my entire life, and have grown to appreciate the glory of past. However, despite the on-field excellence, the implications surrounding a move in Boston can often feel slimy (Isaiah Thomas), contentious (Kyrie Irving) or just plain bizarre (Mookie Betts), and I can't help but think the Brown situation falls in all three of those categories. Even in the baseball realm, we're seeing Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers; two multi-champion Hall-of-Famers, receive offers many consider to be a "slap-in-the-face," while an inconsistent hitter like Trevor Story inks a long-term deal (and he will probably replace Xander once the shortstop leaves).

Additionally, we can't understate the fact that a lot of the quandaries between players and the Boston organizations have revolved around Black athletes, and to make matters worse, some parts of the fanbase appear blind to their own detestable acts.

Anyone who has a brain knows that Boston carries a disgraceful history of racism that now festers in the 21st century. We've seen a fair share of nefarious instances from fans who took their disdain for visiting teams way too far (i.e. Adam Jones and Torii Hunter; the latter of which said he experienced racial abuse all the time as a visiting player). You think I'm overreacting? Here's some more proof of abhorrent behavior, as well as players explaining their unfortunate experiences in Boston. And organizationally-speaking, just a year ago, the Red Sox were one of three teams with only one Black player on their entire roster (Jackie Bradley Jr.) Even recently, when asked during the last episode of The Shop why he hates the city, LeBron James emphatically proclaimed that it is because the fans are racist.

We've also seen equally offensive behavior perpetuated by the local media wagon at WEEI and NESN, as well as subtle double standards that always seem to fly under the radar. Tell me, how are we going to celebrate the Rob Gronkowski spike and embrace the Brady fist pumps, yet act like Cam Newton's swagger is some kind of affront?

This trickle down effect from the organizations, to the fans, to the media is not solely exclusive to Boston. After all, organizational turmoil and disrespectful fanbases are ubiquitous phenomena found all around the country and world (New York and Philadelphia are other imperfect cultures). But there's no question that high-profile players, especially superstar Black athletes, either don't want to come here or don't stay for long, whether it be because of subtle organizational failures, or because of disdain from the fans and media.

Growing up, I was always taught to love Boston teams no matter what, and I will always appreciate my family for providing an outlet for me to make memories through the euphoria of seeing my favorite teams win it all. I'd be remised to not celebrate the many athletes who did bring happiness to my childhood. In fact, watching Ime Udoka, Big Al, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, Jayson Tatum, and Brown spearhead this most recent run was a joy to watch. But naturally, as one gets older and more attuned to the worldly issues, it's hard to ignore the problems. Adjacent to the countless championships lies a growing apathy to the issues that are just as timeless as Fenway Park. And as a result, my thoughts as a Boston fan have grown ambivalent.

Thankfully, it does seem like fans are against Bogaerts and Brown trades, at least through my own experiences (in fact, a fan at the recent Sox game I went too had a sign that said, "don't trade Jaylen Brown"), despite the fact that Brown has already voiced his opinion about the constant trade rumors surrounding. It does also appear that fans were miffed by the Mookie trade, as well, which is another good sign.

But despite these positives, it's hard to ignore the imperfections, from all perspectives (fan, media, organizational). What I see in Massachusetts is a sports world living as a byproduct of American society-so determined to be the best yet so uninterested in bettering ourselves as a community, or simply reckoning with our faults. After all, without the players, there would be no team or championships, and without the team, there's no sport offered as an "escape from reality."

And sure, a lot of these players I'm talking about are making millions and will probably be well-off no matter where they end up. They all, in fact, do have the privilege to up and leave if they don't like their current situation (in most cases, at least). But harping on the monetary aspects only distracts from the broader conversation about fan and media culture, and how those communities intersect with the an organization's desires.

To trade Brown would mean the Celtics' organization changes, not just from a basketball perspective, but a cultural one as well. Not only will he have a fruitful career, but Brown is also a notable activist-an important voice in a city that evidently needs more of them. Incidentally, we're already seeing the Red Sox culture change since the departure of Mookie, who we later found to be the galvanizer for their past success.

It's been refreshing watching many fans on Twitter beg for Brown to stay, a rare blip in a community that sometimes forgets that players are human beings first rather than simple cogs in the pursuit for hardware. My hope is things work out between the Celtics and Brown, as well as between the Red Sox and Bogaerts and Devers. These are all transcendent athletes who continue to provide joy to a complicated city that is far from infallible.