76ers acquire Jaylen Brown from Celtics in trade for Paul George

76ers acquire Jaylen Brown from Celtics in trade for Paul George

The Boston Celtics have traded five-time All-Star forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster deal that sends forward Paul George and a package of draft picks to Boston. The move, first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, ends Brown's 10-season tenure with the Celtics, a run that included the 2024 NBA championship and a Finals MVP award.

According to the terms of the agreement, the Celtics receive Paul George, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick that can convert into a pick swap if more favorable to Boston. The deal also includes two second-round selections: a 2028 pick (the most favorable of those owed to Philadelphia by Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, or Golden State) and a 2030 pick (the most favorable of those owed by Phoenix, Portland, or Washington).

The trade comes on the heels of a chaotic Eastern Conference offseason. The Celtics had previously attempted to trade Brown and two picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Milwaukee Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Brown was also reportedly floated in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves around the 2026 NBA Draft, though Minnesota chose to trade for LaMelo Ball.

For the 76ers, the acquisition adds a 29-year-old wing in his prime to a core featuring Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia recently added forward Dean Wade in free agency and rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, further reshaping a roster that eliminated the Celtics in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs after trailing 3-1 in the series.

The partnership between Brown and Embiid arrives despite a frosty history. Following a Game 7 clash two months ago, Brown criticized Embiid on a livestream, stating:

"Joel Embiid is one of the greatest players that has played basketball, but he flops. He knows it too"

Jaylen Brown, via @rileysbetter

Brown leaves Boston as the franchise's 10th-leading scorer. He is coming off a career-best 2025-26 season where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 71 games, finishing sixth in MVP voting. His production peaked while Jayson Tatum was sidelined for the start of the season recovering from an Achilles tear.

Conversely, Paul George leaves Philadelphia after a disappointing two-year stint. George, 36, struggled with health and consistency, logging 86 DNPs over two seasons and averaging 16.7 points. His tenure was further marred by a 25-game suspension last season for flunking a drug test. He departs Philadelphia having signed a four-year, $212 million deal, with $54.1 million due this coming season and a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28.

The decision to move Brown has raised questions regarding the Celtics' internal dynamics. While Brad Stevens recently stated that Brown has been amazing and a great person to be around, reports suggest some dissatisfaction from Brown late last season. Some within the organization viewed Brown's comment that 2025-26 was his favorite season as a subtle shot at Tatum. Additionally, the team is now under new governor Bill Chisholm, who was not present during Brown's development or his 2024 championship run.

The Celtics' new-look roster will now build around Tatum and George, having also signed Mitchell Robinson for center depth. Speculation remains whether Boston intends to use the acquired draft assets for further moves, as the return for Brown is viewed by some league sources as underwhelming for a player of his caliber.

The 76ers are not finished adjusting their roster. A league source tells The Athletic that Philadelphia has expressed interest in acquiring free agent forward LeBron James, who is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons.