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Nikola Vucevic believes the financial structure around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown made it increasingly difficult for the Boston Celtics to maintain the depth required to support two players on maximum-level contracts.

Speaking to SKWEEK, Vucevic said he saw signs that Boston could eventually face a major roster decision, although he did not anticipate Brown’s eventual departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I think there were some signs, mostly because the big contracts and the NBA’s new rules made it difficult for them to build the team,” Vucevic said.

“With Tatum and Brown both on such big contracts, it wasn’t easy for them to fit the rest of the team around those two. But while I was there, did I sense anything between the players or any kind of problems? No, I honestly didn’t.”

Vucevic’s comments point to roster construction rather than any reported conflict between Boston’s two longtime stars. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games during the 2025-26 season, earning All-NBA Second Team honors and finishing sixth in MVP voting.

Tatum, meanwhile, was limited to 16 games but averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Boston still finished 56-26, second in the Eastern Conference and four games behind the conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics’ supporting cast also relied heavily on players who carried significant roles. Payton Pritchard averaged 17.0 points and 5.2 assists in 79 games, while Derrick White averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 assists and 1.3 blocks and was selected to the All-Defensive First Team.

Vucevic joined Boston late in the season and appeared in 16 games, averaging 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. The Celtics later reached the first round of the playoffs, where they lost to the 76ers in seven games after winning the first game of the series.

Boston’s offseason ultimately brought the major change Vucevic had not expected. On July 6, the Celtics traded Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, two future first-round picks and two second-round selections, ending the Tatum-Brown partnership after a decade together.

“I was as surprised as everyone else when the trade happened, even though there had been plenty written about it in the media,” Vucevic said. “But plenty of things get reported and don’t end up happening.”

The trade reshaped both Atlantic Division rivals. Philadelphia paired Brown with Joel Embiid and LeBron James after finishing 45-37 and seventh in the Eastern Conference last season, while Boston moved forward with Tatum as the centerpiece and George as the most prominent addition.