The Golden State Warriors watched another major swing go by without getting involved, as Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in a trade that immediately raised questions about what Golden State could have done.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Boston sent Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, two first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, and two second-round picks. The move came together as one of the league’s biggest deals, and the price for a player coming off a career-best season stunned plenty of people around the league.
For Philadelphia, the haul looks strong on paper. Giving up two firsts and two seconds for a player who is viewed as arguably a top-15 talent is one thing; getting out from the last two years of George’s contract is another. George is still owed nearly $111 million over the next two years, and the 76ers were able to turn that into Brown plus draft capital.
That naturally leads to the question Warriors fans are already asking: if that was enough to get Brown, why wasn’t Golden State in the mix with Jimmy Butler and two first-round picks? It’s a fair thought in the wake of the trade, especially with the Warriors still trying to position themselves for a LeBron James pursuit in free agency.
Charania also reported the pick details for Boston: the 2028 first-rounder can convert from a first to a swap that would be more favorable to the Celtics, the 2031 pick is unprotected, and the second-rounders include the most favorable of Golden State, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee in 2028, plus another most favorable second in 2030.
Butler remains the player Golden State is tied to, even with his torn ACL keeping him out until at least January. His expiring contract makes him an appealing trade piece in a different way, and the source of frustration for some Warriors observers is that the club may have passed on a chance to get younger and land a better immediate fit for Stephen Curry while parting with only minimal assets.
Instead, the deal was made by Bob Myers, Golden State’s former general manager, who is now serving as interim president of basketball operations after the 76ers fired Daryl Morey at the end of last season.
The Warriors continue to show their commitment to Butler, privately to the six-time All-Star and his camp and publicly as well, including last week’s announcement of IREN as a major partner. Still, this Brown trade only sharpened the sense that Golden State may not be pushing hard enough with contracts and picks to chase the kind of win-now upgrade that Curry’s timeline demands.
And with the final asking price for Brown lower than many expected over the past few weeks, the missed opportunity stands out even more.
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