The Celtics’ stunning deal with Philadelphia may not be the end of their summer reshaping.
Boston shipped Jaylen Brown to the 76ers in a mid-week shocker, landing Paul George along with two first-round picks - 2028 and 2031 - plus two second-rounders in 2028 and 2030. The return left plenty of people underwhelmed, and it immediately raised the question of what the Celtics do next with the extra draft capital.
That’s where Bobby Krivivsky’s latest thought came in. The Celtics beat reporter floated the possibility that Boston could turn around and chase Trey Murphy III, one of the more prized names on the market.
“Some thoughts on the Celtics trading Jaylen Brown while wondering if a Trey Murphy III pursuit is next,” Krivivky wrote on X/twitter.
“The reasons the Celtics seemingly decided they had to move on from Jaylen this offseason are likely reflected in how the league valued him. Right or wrong, the Celtics did not believe a better offer was coming.”
“On top of how the league views Brown, Boston didn't have the leverage. That further diminished offers.
They should've closed the deal for Giannis. They really viewed Brown in such a light that this was worth doing?
What's next? A Trey Murphy III pursuit?”
Murphy was already on the Lakers’ radar before they completed their blockbuster sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler and gave up major draft capital, leaving them without tradeable first-round picks for the next seven years. That kind of market interest says plenty about where Murphy stands around the league.
The 6-foot-8 Virginia product has the kind of profile teams covet: a smooth perimeter shot, the ability to attack in straight-line drives, and the physical tools to make life difficult defensively with length, quick hands, and toughness.
He put up 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the Pelicans last season, while shooting 47.0% from the field and 37.9% from three.
If Boston decides it wants another two-way piece after adding George, Murphy is the sort of player it could check on this month.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Pulled Off Another Backcourt Coup After Jaylen Brown
After the blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers kept working the backcourt market and landed another name that had drawn plenty of attention. Guard Anfernee Simons is set to join Philadelphia on a two-year deal worth $12.3 million, adding another scoring option to a roster that has already been reshaped in a busy stretch of moves.
The appeal is easy to see for a team trying to balance star power with usable depth. Simons brings the kind of bench scoring and perimeter shot-making that can change a second units look, and the fact that other teams were in the mix made this another notable win for Philadelphia as it continues to build out the guard rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Sixers Moved Fast On Anfernee Simons After Brown Trade
After the June 1 deal that sent Paul George and multiple draft picks to Boston for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers did not wait long to start reshaping the rest of the roster. The next move came in free agency, when Philadelphia brought in guard Anfernee Simons on a two-year contract with a player option in the second season, a quick add aimed at giving the revamped group another perimeter scorer and some needed backcourt punch.
Simons had other options, but Philadelphia moved decisively to close the deal and keep its momentum going after the Brown trade. From the Sixers side, the appeal was clear: a younger guard who can help with scoring depth right away and fit into a lineup that still needed more production behind its top names. [Read more 🡒]