The Boston Celtics wrapped up the first week of training camp and headed south to South Carolina and The Citadel for a weekend of practice and team-building activities. However, one interesting theme emerged throughout the first week of camp: the team is much closer-knit than in years past.

When the Celtics kicked off training camp at the Auerbach Center on Tuesday, it wasn't the first time the team had taken the floor together. All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum organized an offseason trip to Los Angeles for the players to get together, work on their games, and build camaraderie. According to Celtics Blog's Noa Dalzell, Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Mike Conley, Chris Cenac Jr., and Dillon Mitchell were among those who took up Tatum's offer. 

"It was cool to get a bunch of guys out there earlier and get acclimated and get used to being around each other. It was a lot of fun. We did a lot of work on the court, played some golf, had some dinners,” veteran forward Sam Hauser told reporters, including Dalzell on Wednesday. 

Tatum was asked why he organized the trip, telling CLNS Boston's Bobby Manning, "Trying something new. It was the 1st time we've ever done that since I've been here. Get in the gym in the summertime when we wouldn't normally be around each other & play golf & hang out. Build that chemistry."

It wasn't just an impromptu training trip to LA that signaled the group is much closer-knit than usual, as center Luka Garza told Dalzell that "everybody" was at the team's training facilities throughout the summer. “I would say it’s one of our better summers for sure," forward Jordan Walsh said. 

The great energy around the team is something that even a newcomer, in George, spoke about in his first days of training camp, saying "Since I’ve been here, it’s just been nothing but happiness, greatness. It’s just a great energy in this building, in this facility.“

Training camp typically brings eternal optimism about what the upcoming season holds. There is an elephant in the room for the Celtics, and the one major piece that didn't return for 2026-27: Jaylen Brown. 

In the weeks and months leading up to the shocking trade of Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package headlined by George, many speculated about the relationship between the two superstars and whether they could continue to coexist in Boston. While both Tatum and Brown have pushed back on the idea that they had tension between them, the team was hell-bent on moving on from Brown, as shown by the underwhelming return. 

Now, in his first season as the clear-cut top dog in the Celtics locker room, Tatum decides to shake things up and invite the whole roster to LA for team-building for the first time in nearly 10 years? Players, no matter their role or how long they've been in Boston, are discussing the great vibes around the team, thanks in part to an offseason full of working and traveling together. It is not a coincidence that this all coincides with Brown's departure 

Sure, Brad Stevens explanation about the team's desire to trade Brown being solely based around his high usage, George being a better complement to Tatum's game, and the idea that you simply cannot have two players taking up so much of your salary cap, makes plenty of sense, BUT there is something to be said about the team having a much better vibe around it heading into the season, and Brown's absence is the biggest difference. 

Jaylen Brown is an incredible basketball player, but after the first week of training camp, it's clear his time in Boston had run its course, and Stevens made the right move in moving on from him. 

After a weekend of team bonding in South Carolina, the Celtics will head to Cleveland on Thursday night for a preseason matchup with the Cavaliers. The matchup with the Cavs is the first of a four-game preseason slate that features a home-and-home with Brown and the 76ers. The Celtics will open their regular season slate on Oct. 20 as they head to Detroit to take on the Pistons. Tip-off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse between the Celtics and Cavs is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. Thursday night.