Jaylen Brown’s move to Philadelphia was always going to change the way he’s judged. The bigger question now is just how much that change will show up once he shares the floor with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James.
Bill Simmons thinks the adjustment could be dramatic. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, he questioned whether the 76ers are the right fit for Brown after the blockbuster trade that landed him in Philadelphia and the later addition of LeBron James.
“I don’t know if this is the best situation for him in Philly, but I’ll guess we’ll find out. But he went from, ‘It’s time for me to have my own team,’ to him being the 4th most important person on this team… He’s basically going to have to be their Derrick White.”
That’s a sharp take, especially considering the season Brown just put together. The 28-year-old posted what was arguably the best year of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.7% from three. He earned his sixth All-Star nod, made All-NBA Second Team and spent much of the season in the MVP discussion.
If the Sixers are looking at pure individual production, Brown was the strongest of their four stars last season. Tyrese Maxey kept climbing and landed his first All-NBA selection.
Joel Embiid was dominant when available, but injuries kept him out for significant stretches. LeBron James was highly productive in a third-option role with the Lakers before choosing Philadelphia in free agency.
That’s why the “fourth option” label doesn’t tell the full story.
Yes, there will be nights when Brown takes fewer shots than Embiid, Maxey or LeBron. There will be games when LeBron runs the offense and controls the pace.
But Brown’s value goes beyond shot volume. His ability to create offense, guard multiple positions and attack in transition makes him much more than a name buried in the pecking order.
The real issue for Philadelphia is less about ranking the stars and more about what each one is willing to give up. Superteams only work when the top players accept smaller slices of the pie for the sake of the whole.
Someone has to take the toughest perimeter assignment.
Someone has to move the ball.
Someone has to live with fewer attempts on certain nights.
Brown’s scoring numbers are almost certainly going to dip from last season. That comes with the territory when he’s sharing touches with LeBron, Embiid and Maxey.
But a drop in points doesn’t automatically mean a drop in impact. In some ways, Brown’s two-way game could end up making him the Sixers’ most valuable piece.
He’s already shown he can score efficiently without monopolizing possessions, and his perimeter defense gives Philadelphia a real edge. That kind of versatility can become a major strength if everything clicks.
Still, the concerns are real. The Sixers don’t have much proven depth beyond their four stars, and injuries could quickly put pressure on the roster.
Chemistry won’t be automatic either, especially with four players who are used to carrying offenses every night. Nick Nurse and his staff will have plenty to sort through.
So while Simmons may be oversimplifying things by calling Brown the fourth option, the concern isn’t empty either. Brown’s role in Philadelphia will be different from what it was in Boston, and his box score numbers will almost certainly take a hit.
But the Sixers aren’t bringing him in to chase the same stat line. They want a championship. That means less focus on touches, honors and individual status, and more on whether Brown is willing to embrace whatever role gets them there.
In Other News...
76ers Just Flipped Another Offseason Assumption With Surprise Roster Call
Philadelphias offseason roster math has taken another turn, and this one points toward Jabari Walker sticking around longer than many around the league expected. The 76ers had a straightforward way to create room, but instead of treating Walkers non-fully guaranteed deal like the obvious odd man out, the front office appears to view him as a useful piece in the frontcourt mix.
Walkers contract still gives the team flexibility, with the guarantee date not arriving until January 10, but the decision-making here says plenty about how Philadelphia wants to shape the back end of the roster. After moving Johni Broome to clear space for additions such as LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Sixers seem more interested in keeping Walker in the fold as a depth option than reopening that spot again. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Facing An Awkward Roster Move They May Have To Overpay For
The Sixers are running into the kind of roster squeeze that tends to turn a simple summer plan into a messy transaction. Philadelphia reportedly wants to keep Jabari Walker for the 2026-2027 season, and the anticipated addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies means the front office has to make room somewhere on the roster.
Johni Broome has become the obvious name to move, but finding a taker may not be straightforward. Teams interested in absorbing his salary could ask for extra assets in return, which would force Philadelphia to decide how much it is willing to pay just to create the flexibility it needs. [Read more 🡒]
Bam Adebayo Reveals His Message After LeBron Passed On The Heat
Bam Adebayo had a measured reaction after LeBron James chose a different path this offseason, stressing support for James while keeping the focus on what comes next for Miami and the Eastern Conference. Adebayo also made clear he is looking forward to the season ahead, including the possibility of sharing a locker room with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a scenario he has already talked through with him before.
For the Heat, the bigger takeaway is less about disappointment and more about how quickly the landscape can shift around them. Adebayo said he is not discouraged by the decision and sees a fresh turnaround coming in the East, which leaves Miami in the familiar spot of having to answer the leagues biggest moves with its own. [Read more 🡒]