The Boston Celtics have agreed to a blockbuster inter-division trade sending former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. In return, Boston acquires 36-year-old veteran forward Paul George alongside a package of four draft picks.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the completely unexpected transaction on Wednesday evening. The Celtics secure two first-round draft picks, specifically in 2028 and 2031, along with two second-rounders. It definitively ends weeks of swirling trade rumors surrounding Brown. He helped lead the Celtics to an NBA Championship just two years prior alongside Jayson Tatum.
The move tears apart Boston’s established core. Brown is coming off a phenomenal individual campaign. He played 71 games last season, averaging a career-best 28.7 points per game on .477 shooting. George brings veteran experience to the Celtics’ locker room, having averaged 17.3 points per game on .439 shooting last season.
The sheer magnitude of the swap immediately sent shockwaves across the NBA community. Fans on social media initially questioned if Charania had been hacked due to the completely unpredictable nature of the deal. Analysts at CBSSports gave the 76ers an A+ trade grade while dubbing Boston’s end of the transaction a baffling decision. The internet also quickly resurfaced past rivalrous comments and “big shots” Brown had previously directed at his new frontcourt teammate, Joel Embiid.