NBA Trade Shakeup
Celtics Trade Jaylen Brown to 76ers: Analyzing NBA Implications and Cavs' LeBron James Hopes
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The Boston Celtics have traded 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for veteran forward Paul George and a package of draft picks, according to AP. The deal — confirmed on the evening of July 1, 2026 — instantly reshuffled the Eastern Conference and slammed the door on Cleveland's best plan to lure LeBron James back home.
Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season. He is under contract for three more years. Boston gets back Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, according to USA Today.
Cleveland's LeBron Plan Collapses in Real Time
Just hours before the trade was announced, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers were targeting Brown as the centerpiece of a LeBron James homecoming pitch. The idea was simple: land an elite young star, then use that star to convince LeBron to return to Ohio. That plan is now gone, according to Audacy.
On Cleveland's "Afternoon Drive" show on 92.3 The Fan, hosts Nick Wilson and JP Zarmick called it a gut punch. Their consensus: the Cavaliers missed their best shot at LeBron. Without a younger "alpha" to pair with him, Cleveland's pitch looks thin. James Harden is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to join the Cavs, but that is seen as a far weaker draw, according to Audacy.
76ers Build a Big Three Around Brown and Embiid
Philadelphia now pairs Brown with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. That trio makes the 76ers the immediate favorite in the Eastern Conference, according to USA Today. Brown scored 28.7 points per game last season. Adding that firepower to an already dangerous Philly roster is a massive upgrade.
The 76ers moved off an aging Paul George to get a 29-year-old Finals MVP in his prime. Philadelphia media called it the "ultimate win." George was seen as a declining asset. Brown is not. The deal gives Philly a legitimate title window right now.
Boston Hits Reset After Ugly Season Collapse
The Celtics were eliminated by the 76ers in Game 7 of the first round on May 2, 2026 — after blowing a 3-1 series lead. Jayson Tatum missed significant time with a torn Achilles. Brown's relationship with the front office soured badly after that exit, according to AP. He said publicly that the lost season was his "favorite," drawing sharp internal backlash.
Celtics president Brad Stevens had publicly called Brown "part of the future" just weeks before the trade. He also tried and failed to package Brown in a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended up with the Miami Heat. Boston now takes on George's $54.1 million salary but gains four picks, including an unprotected 2031 first-rounder, according to USA Today.
Star Loyalty Is Dead — And the NBA Is Paying the Price
The "Afternoon Drive" hosts argued the trade carries a bigger message for the league. Brown was a homegrown Celtics star. He was their Finals MVP just two years ago. Trading him like a commodity signals that no player — no matter how loyal — is safe. They called it a blow to the NBA's brand, according to Audacy.
The concern is real. Fans invest emotionally in star players staying put. When franchises move elite talent this fast, it shakes trust in the game. The Celtics trading Brown less than 24 months after he won them a championship is one of the starkest examples of that shift in recent memory.
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