Joe Mazzulla said Thursday he is still processing the Boston Celtics' trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics acquired Paul George and draft capital in the deal.

Mazzulla spoke to reporters following the Celtics' summer league practice.

"There's a feeling that goes into it," Mazzulla said. "There's an emotion that goes into it. There's a processing pattern that goes into it. The quicker you can get to just a level of gratitude - he made me a better coach. I know that for a fact. The way he pushed me, the way he pushed himself, the way he pushed the locker room, he made me a better coach, and that's what you focus on."

Mazzulla added: "I think when things happen like this, when it doesn't feel hard, is when you're not in it for the right reasons. And I think that's where Brad is one of the best at, and this organization has been one of the best at. Of course, something like that is going to be difficult. But I think if you could just get through and act as if nothing happened, then that's when I think that you're not in it for the right reasons. So yeah, it was difficult. It will be difficult ... but I think it will be difficult because of what Jaylen did for us as an organization, what he was able to do. You have to be grateful for that."

Mazzulla emphasized his gratitude for Brown's decade with the franchise.

"The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we really want to focus on the most, is really just the respect, the appreciation and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years," said Mazzulla. "He was a Celtic longer than I have been. He was here before me. He set the tone and started that, and was a part of special things, and continued that, and obviously was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have been. So that to me is what we have to focus on more: The respect as a competitor and the gratitude for what he's done."

Brown offered a different perspective on the trade during a livestream with IShowSpeed while watching the World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco.

"I just got traded. ... They packed me up, bro. It's a crazy business, bro. Don't become a basketball player," said Brown. "There's no loyalty. There's no love."

Brown finished sixth in MVP voting this season, averaging career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. The Celtics never missed the playoffs during his 10 seasons, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals six times, the NBA Finals twice and winning the 2024 championship.

Brad Stevens cited salary cap flexibility as a driving factor behind the trade, noting George carries one fewer year on his contract than Brown despite a similar salary. Mazzulla said he was included in conversations but did not provide direct input on the decision.

"Not input, just Brad comes to you and talks to you and gives you a breakdown and an understanding," said Mazzulla. "And in moments like this, obviously, there's great alignment within the organization, and there's conversations that are always going to be had. But I think in moments like this, this is where you just trust, you listen, you trust, and you have an understanding for what they do."

The Celtics also signed Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley in free agency this offseason. Boston is coming off consecutive early playoff exits, including a blown 3-1 series lead against the 76ers this past postseason.