Celtics Trade Shake-Up
Boston Celtics Reportedly Acquire Paul George, Future Picks in Jaylen Brown Trade to 76ers
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The Boston Celtics have traded 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two future first-round picks, and two second-round picks, according to ESPN. The deal was broken by Shams Charania on July 1, 2026, just hours after the trade window opened.
Brown averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season — largely while carrying Boston without the injured Jayson Tatum. Now he heads to Philadelphia to join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and rising star VJ Edgecombe, Houston Chronicle reports.
A Fractured Relationship Pushed Brown Out of Boston
The trade did not come out of nowhere. Reports say the Celtics front office badly damaged its relationship with Brown earlier this summer. President Brad Stevens reportedly offered Brown in a package for Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo chose Miami instead, leaving the Brown-Boston relationship in ruins, according to Sporting News.
The Celtics also blew a 3-1 series lead to Philadelphia in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. After Game 7, Brown said: "This group is a special group. I wish we trusted that style of play a bit more." That exit — at the hands of the very team he now joins — made his departure feel inevitable.
Brown Joins a Loaded 76ers Core in Philadelphia
Brown, 29, steps into a starting small forward role alongside Maxey, Embiid, and Edgecombe. Philadelphia media called the move a "stunning" masterstroke by the front office, according to Metro Philadelphia. The 76ers had already knocked off the Celtics in the playoffs. Now they add a Finals MVP to that group.
Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in 2025 and an All-Rookie First Team selection, set a 76ers franchise record in that Game 7 — 23 points, while becoming the first rookie ever with 20-plus points, 5-plus rebounds, and 5-plus threes in a Game 7. Brown and Edgecombe now play on the same side, NBC Sports notes.
Boston Takes on Paul George's Risky Contract
In return, Boston gets Paul George — a nine-time All-Star who turns 36 this season. George has two years left on what analysts are calling one of the "worst contracts in the NBA," Hartford Courant reported. His injury history is a major concern. He has never played a full 82-game season.
Some fans and analysts are openly questioning Stevens. They say Boston traded a player in his prime for an aging wing and a handful of future picks. The two first-rounders include an unprotected 2031 pick and a 2028 pick with a swap option favorable to Boston, Hartford Courant reports. Whether that haul is enough depends on how the Tatum-George pairing works.
Fantasy Basketball Impact: Brown's Value Shifts, George a Wild Card
For fantasy players, Brown's move to Philly creates an exciting but crowded offense. Analysts expect his scoring to dip slightly from 28.7 PPG as he shares the ball with Embiid and Maxey. But his efficiency could rise. NBC Sports analyst Raphielle Johnson says Brown's overall fantasy value remains elite despite the role adjustment.
George is the bigger risk. His fantasy upside in Boston depends entirely on health. If he stays healthy past 60 games — something he has rarely done — the Tatum-George duo has real potential. If not, Boston could be left with an empty contract and fading playoff hopes, NBC Sports warns.
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