The Boston Celtics didn’t make a move this summer that everyone’s going to understand right away, and that includes the decision to send Finals MVP Jaylen Brown out and bring in Paul George. On the surface, it looks like a massive step backward. But according to NBA analyst and Celtics superfan Bill Simmons, the logic inside the building wasn’t about taking a shot at Brown - it was about finding a cleaner fit next to Jayson Tatum.
“I think one of the reasons they made this trade is that they felt he might be a better fit at this point in Tatum’s career,” said Bill Simmons on SiriusXM NBA radio. “Not to say I agree with that; I didn’t like the trade and wish they didn’t do it. But I think they were feeling like it was a better basketball fit, and I think they wanted some of their other wings to play more.”
That’s the heart of the bet Boston is making. Tatum is still the center of everything, and the Celtics appear to believe George is better suited to orbit around him without needing the offense built around him. At 36 and no longer in the prime of his career, George is viewed as the kind of veteran who can slide into that role more naturally.
Brown’s résumé with Boston was never the issue. He spent 10 years with the Celtics, helped deliver the 2024 championship, and took home his first Finals MVP. Last season, with Tatum unavailable, he posted the best stretch of his career: 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field.
Still, there were cracks in the picture. Boston blew a 3-1 lead in the first round, the first time that had happened in franchise history. Afterward, Brown called it his favorite season ever, a line that only added fuel to the idea that he’d rather be the lead guy on his own terms than keep living in Tatum’s shadow.
That’s part of why the Celtics seem to prefer George in this spot. The thinking is that he won’t need the same kind of offensive spotlight or special handling. In Philadelphia last season, he was already working in a supporting role behind Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, and Boston appears to see that as a better match for what comes next.
There’s also a roster ripple here. With Brown gone, the Celtics want their other wings to get more run and grow into bigger roles. George’s game still gives them perimeter shooting and defense, and last season he averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
None of it guarantees the move will land cleanly, and health will matter as much as anything else. But Boston clearly believes this version of the team can still hang in the contender conversation if the pieces stay on the floor. For now, though, it’s going to take some time before fans know exactly how to judge a roster that looks very different from the one they were used to.
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