Jaylen Brown trade grades: The Sixers are a threat in the Eastern Conference

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

After the Boston Celtics tried to deal Jaylen Brown in an attempt to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this offseason, there was a lot of conjecture about whether or not they needed to trade the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. He was visibly upset in his Twitch streams, but the Celtics are rarely reactionary in handling this kind of stuff.

Turns out, they’re reacting.

Boston is trading Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks (2028 via the LA Clippers, their own in 2031) and two second-round picks. It’s another blockbuster in a summer of blockbusters.

ESPN first reported the deal. This is a major shift for the Celtics, and it’s potentially a move that turns the Sixers into a much more serious threat in the Eastern Conference. What does it all mean?

Let’s bust out the red ink and slap some grades on this trade.

76ers receive Jaylen Brown

What a massive swing by the 76ers, who came back from down 3-1 against the Celtics in the first round to beat them in a playoff series for the first time since 1982. The Sixers have been worried about surviving the Joel Embiid experience from season to season, as their potential hinges on his availability. Last season, they figured that out a lot better with Tyrese Maxey continuing to rise as a star, and VJ Edgecombe immediately making an impact as a star rookie.

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George did not have a great season and missed 25 games because of a suspension at one point. Now the 76ers replace him in the lineup with Brown, who is coming off the best individual season of his career. The Sixers can now roll out a perimeter attack of Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe, which is going to be nearly impossible for teams to match up against. On the nights Embiid is available and active, they could be one of the best teams in the East. On the nights when Embiid is struggling or unable to play, they’ll still be fine.

Memorable moments from Jaylen Brown’s 10 seasons in Boston

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Brown has an amazing ability to attack off the dribble, and the Sixers now have a few guys who can do that. Brown has more than $180 million owed to him over the next three seasons, and he’s eligible for a two-year extension worth over $140 million. The Sixers can commit to the All-NBA wing for a half-decade for a major portion of their salary cap, but the firepower and stability this team has is something it hasn’t had during the Embiid era.

The Sixers can legitimately challenge the Knicks in the East now, but they’ll still need to be healthy. Remember, New York just swept them in the second round. Swapping George for Brown changes that dynamic a lot.

Grade: A

Celtics receive Paul George, two first-round picks, two second-round picks

This feels like a panic move. The Celtics know the inner workings and dynamics of this situation far better than anybody outside the organization. However, Brown is signed for the next three years, and you could have eased his feelings a lot with that aforementioned contract extension. It’s hard to believe that wouldn’t have eased the tension when you also remind him that you won a championship together just a couple of years ago.

The Celtics’ decision to go with George instead of Brown is a massive downgrade. He has a much more alarming injury history, and he’s simply not as good. George is 36 years old with one more year on his contract for $54 million and then a player option in 2027-28 for over $56 million. He’s not a long-term solution, and he’s not a better solution. The Celtics are hoping this gets them very good roster and cap flexibility within two years to pair other people with Jayson Tatum. At the same time, they’re praying that the draft picks from the Sixers will greatly benefit them.

The 2028 first-round pick could convert from a pick to a swap if it benefits Boston that way. The 2031 pick is unprotected. Is that enough to make it worth it to downgrade from Brown to George? The Utah Jazz got more for Walker Kessler than the Celtics are probably getting for an All-NBA 29-year-old in good health.

Unless those picks really hit or they acquire some major help for Tatum within two years, they should have rolled the dice with Brown.

Grade: D+

Jaylen Brown trade grades: The Sixers are a threat in the Eastern Conference

76ers receive Jaylen Brown

Celtics receive Paul George, two first-round picks, two second-round picks

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2026-07-05 03:07:00