The Celtics and Sixers have agreed to one of the biggest swings of the offseason, with Jaylen Brown headed to Philadelphia and Paul George landing in Boston, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Philadelphia is sending George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Celtics in the deal, Charania reported. The draft compensation includes a 2028 first-round pick that could become a “most favorable” swap for Boston, plus the Sixers’ unprotected 2031 first-rounder. Boston is also getting one 2028 second-round pick from among the Warriors’, Thunder’ or Bucks’ selections, and one 2030 second-round pick from among the Wizards’, Trail Blazers’ or Suns’ picks.
There are some moving parts attached to the first-rounder in 2028. The Sixers control the Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first-round pick and would also control their own first-rounder if it lands in the top eight.
Charania’s reporting suggests Boston would likely receive the Clippers pick if Philadelphia’s own selection falls outside the protected range; otherwise, the Celtics would likely get the most favorable of the two. Those specifics are not confirmed yet.
Brown exits Boston after what was arguably the best season of his career. The five-time All-Star put up career-best numbers across the board, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
He helped the Celtics finish 56-26 despite the absence of Jayson Tatum for most of the season as Tatum recovered from an Achilles tear. Brown earned All-NBA second-team honors and finished sixth in MVP voting.
His relationship with the Celtics had already become a talking point after the season. Shortly after Boston’s first-round playoff exit against the 76ers, Brown called it his “favorite season” of his career, a comment that seemed to suggest he preferred being the team’s primary scorer and play-maker over winning a championship in 2024 as the No. 2 option. Around that same time, former NBA star Tracy McGrady, a mentor and friend of Brown’s, said on his podcast that Brown was frustrated with the team.
Brown later said he remained committed to Boston, but his name kept surfacing in trade discussions through the offseason. He was mentioned in talks involving Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and then in a series of other potential deals with teams around the league.
Charania said on ESPN that the Celtics were “actively shopping” Brown by Wednesday and pushing teams to submit their best offers. He also said his understanding is that the 29-year-old never asked out of Boston.
Still, the Celtics’ willingness to move him makes clear the front office, led by president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, believed it was time to split from the former No. 3 overall pick. Whether that decision came from concerns about repairing the relationship or some other factor remains to be seen.
In Other News...
Celtics Free Agency Short List Includes One Reunion Fans Wont See Coming
Boston has not made a move yet as free agency gets underway, but the Celtics still have the tools to make one or two useful additions. With mid-level and bi-annual exception money available, Brad Stevens has made clear the front office wants more size and another perimeter-speed option, which keeps a few familiar types in play as the roster takes shape.
Among the names circulating are Kevon Looney, Brandon Williams and Anfernee Simons, a group that speaks to different needs depending on how Boston wants to balance the bench. Looney would fit as frontcourt depth, Williams brings a different kind of guard pressure, and Simons adds the most intriguing wrinkle of all after already spending time with the Celtics before landing in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics May Already Have Their Jaylen Brown Replacement In Mind
Bostons next move may already be taking shape after the Jaylen Brown trade, with the front office now looking to turn the assets from that deal into a new wing piece. The Celtics picked up future first-round capital in the swap, and that kind of flexibility is exactly what tends to matter when a team is trying to stay competitive while retooling on the fly.
One name drawing interest is Trey Murphy III, a young Pelicans forward under contract for three more years and the type of player who fits the modern Boston blueprint. The question is whether New Orleans would even entertain moving him this summer, and if it does, the Celtics would not be alone in the chase. [Read more 🡒]
Former Celtics Champion Rips Brad Stevens Over Stunning Franchise Move
Kendrick Perkins did not wait long to weigh in on Bostons stunning decision to move Jaylen Brown, and his criticism landed with the kind of force that tends to follow a franchise-changing trade. The former Celtics champion singled out Brad Stevens and the organizations direction, treating the deal as the sort of move that instantly changes how the front office is judged.
What makes the reaction linger is the uncertainty around what comes next. Boston has not offered an official explanation for the trade, and it is still not clear whether this is the first step in a broader reshaping of the roster or the kind of splashy gamble the Celtics will have to defend on its own merits. For now, the move has left more questions than answers, with Stevens and company carrying the burden of proving there is a coherent plan behind it. [Read more 🡒]