Bill Simmons spent more than 50 days coming around to the Celtics’ Paul George trade, and he’s now ready to admit it.
At first, Simmons was among the loudest voices pushing back after Boston dealt for George from the Philadelphia 76ers. A lot of fans and analysts were in the same camp, viewing it as a rough move for the Celtics. But on the latest episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” he said he’s changed his tune because, in his words, he’s a Celtics fan.
“I've kind of talked myself into the Paul George trade,” Simmons said. “August 23rd.
Took over 50 days. It happened this week, yeah… Honestly, 50 days was a long time.
But now I've talked myself into it. I had to!
What else am I going to do?”
I have an announcement pic.twitter.com/3vA3zeQbMC
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 24, 2026
The deal sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for George, two first-round picks - in 2028 and 2031 - and two future second-round picks. The backlash came fast because Boston gave up a player in his prime for an older star with an injury history, while also parting with draft capital the front office won’t be able to use for two years.
George’s recent availability has only fueled that criticism. He has not played more than 41 games in either of the past two seasons, and his numbers dipped last year. In 37 games, the nine-time All-Star averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 43.9% from the field and 39.2% from three.
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Former Celtic Weighs In On What Really Drove Jaylen Brown Trade
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Vucevic pointed instead to the bigger structural problem the Celtics were facing: building around two max-level stars while working within the leagues salary rules. Brown was eventually dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft picks, a transaction that underscored how expensive it had become to keep the core intact. For Boston, the trade was less about one isolated issue than the reality of trying to keep a contender together in a cap system that leaves very little room for error. [Read more 🡒]
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Boston enters the 2026-27 season with a reshaped roster and the familiar expectation that it should still be in the mix near the top of the East. The Celtics are projected to land somewhere in the No. 3-5 range, with the Knicks and 76ers looming as the kind of competition that can quickly expose any soft spots. Joe Mazzulla is expected to spend the early part of the season testing different lineups and rotation patterns, trying to keep the group both flexible and locked into the winning standard that has defined the franchise for years.
Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White and Paul George are all set to carry major responsibilities, but the bigger question is how the pieces fit when the games start piling up. Bostons ceiling may come down to whether Mazzulla can settle the right combinations early enough to build rhythm without sacrificing the defensive identity and shot-making that keep this team dangerous. In a conference with little margin for error, the answer could shape whether the Celtics are merely solid or something more threatening by spring. [Read more 🡒]
Jayson Tatums Dad Just Turned Up Pressure On Bostons New-Look Roster
Justin Tatum did not exactly hide his skepticism when he weighed in on Bostons reshaped roster during a podcast, calling the current group poor. The comment landed at a moment when the Celtics are already under a brighter spotlight than usual, with the front office making sweeping changes and trying to prove the team can keep pace after a major shake-up.
Bostons overhaul has centered on moving Jaylen Brown for Paul George while also bringing in Mike Conley Jr. and Mitchell Robinson, a collection of names that changes the look and feel of the roster in a big way. Even with the criticism, ESPN still projects the Celtics as contenders in the Eastern Conference, which only adds another layer to the early judgment on how this new version of the team will hold up. [Read more 🡒]