The Boston Celtics have dealt guard Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, ending weeks of speculation after the club’s failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, league sources told The Athletic.
The agreement, reported Wednesday, sends Paul George, two first-round selections, and two second-round selections to Boston. The return surprised executives around the league, given Boston’s earlier request for four first-rounders, but team officials believe each pick will hold significant value either on the roster or in future trades.
Shifting Market for Brown
Boston’s willingness to include Brown in its Antetokounmpo offer convinced rival teams the Celtics were open to moving the two-time All-Star. According to The Athletic, Boston first dangled Brown at February’s trade deadline in a last-minute bid to pry Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee. When that effort and a subsequent push last month fell short, the club canvassed the league for other deals and discovered Brown’s perceived value lagged behind its expectations.
The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers explored scenarios but balked at the four-pick price tag. A Portland source cited Brown’s contract—$183 million over the next three seasons, with an extension eligible this summer—and internal analytics labeling him a negative-value player at that salary. An unnamed general manager from another franchise told The Athletic he does not view Brown as a top-50 player despite his second-team All-NBA nod this year.
Internal Tension in Boston
Although some Celtics staffers questioned Brown’s overall impact, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens remained an advocate, making Brown the league’s highest-paid player after the club’s 2023 playoff exit. His forthcoming $57.7 million salary ranks seventh in the NBA, a figure several teams see as misaligned with his production.
Brown was kept apprised of negotiations but felt disrespected by Boston’s approach and voiced his frustration during a Thursday night livestream. Team officials feared retaining him for another season could spark a trade demand and weaken their leverage. Concerns also arose about chemistry if Brown had to cede primary scoring duties back to Jayson Tatum, who missed significant time last season with an Achilles injury.
With negotiations complete, Brown heads to an Atlantic Division rival, while Boston adds George and draft capital in preparation for the 2026-27 campaign.
Source: HoopsRumors
