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76ers pull off groundbreaking Jaylen Brown trade involving Paul George with Celtics
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- 76ers pull off groundbreaking Jaylen Brown trade involving Paul George with Celtics
76ers pull off groundbreaking Jaylen Brown trade involving Paul George with Celtics appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
In a shocking turn of events, the Boston Celtics have agreed to trade 2024 NBA Finals MVP and five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for nine-time All-Star Paul George , two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, according to ESPN.
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The picks that the Celtics are to receive from the 76ers are as follows: a 2028 first-round pick that could convert from a first to a swap that is more favorable to Boston, Philadelphia 's 2031 unprotected first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick that will be the most favorable of Golden State , Oklahoma City , and Milwaukee , and a 2030 second-round pick that will be the more favorable of Washington, Portland , and Phoenix.
Over the last few weeks, the Celtics had grown eager to make a big roster move . As a result, they had made Brown available in trade talks despite the superstar wing never once asking team president Brad Stevens or any member of the front office for a trade.
Although teams were interested in Brown's talent, his contract and Boston's asking price were deterring rival organizations from attempting to make a trade. The Celtics' asking price was said to be four first-round picks, which no team was willing to offer.
On Wednesday, the 76ers finalized this shocking trade with their in-conference rivals, landing the 29-year-old star from the Celtics in another blockbuster trade this summer. Brown now joins Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard as former NBA Finals MVPs to be traded this offseason.
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While the Celtics held interest in trading Brown to immediately upgrade their roster this offseason, this trade with the Sixers comes as a shock to many around the NBA.
The pairing of Jayson Tatum and Brown had been a dynamic duo in Boston over the last nine seasons, leading the Celtics to five Eastern Conference Finals appearances, two NBA Finals appearances, and a championship in 2024, where Brown was named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
This past season, Tatum and Brown fell short of advancing far in the playoffs, falling in seven games to the 76ers in their first round playoff series. These two stars have been the foundation of Boston's success, and now the Celtics will take things in a new direction after trading Brown for George in a stunning trade in the midst of NBA free agency.
For the 76ers, this was a prime opportunity to add a superstar wing in the prime of his career who can immediately contribute to the team's championship aspirations.
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Brown now joins Tyrese Maxey , VJ Edgecombe , and Joel Embiid on their quest to finally get the Sixers over the hump in the East and cement themselves not just as championship threats, but potentially overcome all obstacles and win Philadelphia's first NBA championship since 1983.
The 76ers could not have found a better deal to maximize their championship goals right now than swapping George and picks for Brown, especially considering that George is 36 years old and has long been viewed as a negative asset given his contract.
George still has two years left on his contract and will make $54.1 million during the 2026-27 season. He has a $56.6 million player option for the 2027-28 season. It is unknown at this time as to why the Celtics made the decision to accept the former All-Star in this deal with the 76ers, but by all accounts, it seems like Stevens and this organization simply wanted to move Brown for anything they could.
As for Brown, he not only joins a team ready to maximize the prime years of his career, but the revenge factor of constantly facing Boston will surely play a revenge favor for him.
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Brown is entering the third year of his massive $285.3 million contract extension that he signed with the Celtics in 2023. He will be eligible to sign a two-year, $141.9 million extension on July 26, and all early indications suggest he will receive said deal from the 76ers.
After attempting to trade Brown and two unprotected first-round picks for Giannis before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Celtics began aggressively shopping Brown at the start of this week to find a suitor for the star wing. The 76ers stepped up with this offer involving George and draft picks, prompting the Celtics to lock in the trade on Wednesday evening.
Related: Celtics' Derrick White posts heartfelt goodbye to Jaylen Brown after 76ers trade
Related: Why Kendrick Perkins believes Jaylen Brown trade makes 76ers Finals contenders
