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According to at least three sources, everything changed in Philadelphia when first-year president of basketball operations Mike Gansey pulled off the bombshell acquisition of Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, from the Boston Celtics for Paul George and four future picks — two firsts and two seconds — on July 1, after James had already announced his decision to leave the Lakers. Before that trade, the 76ers, internally, considered themselves longshots for James. Afterward, though, they were all in. “Now, we’ve got a pretty interesting roster,” said a team source with knowledge of the franchise’s pursuit of James, who was speaking after the Brown trade but before James picked Philadelphia.
Tony Jones: A source tells me the report that Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have not spoken is inaccurate. “The two of them have spoken” the source said. Brown was recently traded to the 76ers for Paul George and picks
As Derrick White and Jordan Walsh went through a workout on one of the Cox Pavilion courts Saturday morning, head coach Joe Mazzulla detailed the respect he has for Brown, what Boston will miss most about him and the need to create a new path forward without him. After 10 highly successful seasons with Brown, Boston will take on a different look with Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley now on the roster. “There needs to be a grieving process for losing not just a player in Jaylen, but a person in Jaylen,” Mazzulla said in an interview with The Athletic. “There needs to be a grieving process that this guy, what he has done on the court and what he’s done in the community and what he’s done for the city of Boston, there should be a grieving process. But the … gray area is throughout that loss, you’re also gaining.”
“We wanted to stay good,” Stevens said. “And we wanted to add more optionality.” Ironically, that formula involved acquiring George, whose contract is similar to Brown’s but has one fewer year. Stevens said the first-round picks in the deal, including a 2028 pick with several complicated stipulations, were “potential premium assets.” “I think the biggest thing is, it’s (George), plus the picks, plus the optionality moving forward,” Stevens said. “Paul’s contract is shorter.”
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Bobby Marks: Paul George waived his $3.9M trade bonus, sources tell ESPN. His cap hit in Boston remains at $54.1M and $56.6M (P)
Legion Hoops: Brad Stevens on the Celtics’ fans reaction to trading Jaylen Brown for Paul George: “I've done a pretty good job of staying off of all the social media the last few days.”
Kyle Neubeck: Jaylen Brown trade is OFFICIAL Pick outlay is in the release, and a statement from Brown as he joins the Sixers
Jaylen Brown trade is OFFICIAL Pick outlay is in the release, and a statement from Brown as he joins the Sixers
— Kyle Neubeck (@kyleneubeck.bsky.social) 2026-07-06T17:48:38.853Z
Daniel Donabedian: Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell on the Jaylen Brown trade: “Jaylen has done everything possible for this city. He’ll be missed. But it’s the NBA. Wilt Chamberlain got traded after he averaged 50 points one year…I wish nothing but the best for Jaylen. He’s a hell of a basketball player.” He then spoke on Paul George: “He doesn’t have to try to be Jaylen Brown. He’s gotta be Paul George…We’ll be fine.”
Draymond Green on Jaylen Brown for Paul George trade: No disrespect to Paul George, but this isn’t an even swap. I got a lot of love for PG. but like myself, PG is 36 years old. Not like myself. I’m going into year 15. I think PG is going into year 17. And Jaylen Brown, not even 30 years old. He’s 29 years old and he’s going into year 11. So, and by the way, he won finals MVP two years ago. I think he just made All-NBA second team this year. Was arguably controversially possibly could have been a first team performer, but the votes are what they are. So it’s not an even swap. Like when you’re talking just player for player, it’s not
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Oh No He Didn't: Jovan: "Maybe they end up rerouting Paul George elsewhere. There's been talks about maybe them doing something with New Orleans. They have multiple firsts to put on the table to maybe go after Trey Murphy. Barring that this is a pretty surprising return for a guy of Jaylen Brown's caliber"
Bill Simmons on hearing about the Jaylen Brown trade from his wife picking him up from a colonoscopy: “I think I’m dead. The anesthesia killed me. Are there more first round picks?...I had a camera in my ass, and I had Paul George rammed up my ass”
Law Murray: "I fuck with PG" -- Jaylen Brown, saying Paul George hooping vs Celtics in playoffs helped this deal go down
Boston’s Jaylen Brown trade return of Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks left numerous NBA executives around the league bewildered. “They couldn’t have gotten better than that?” one neutral observing executive whose team was not in the Brown sweepstakes told HoopsHype. Many around the league were surprised George, 36, was the best player Boston could land for a 29-year-old Brown who was sixth in the NBA MVP voting this past season. George, a nine-time All-Star in his 16-year career, hasn’t been an All-Star the past two seasons since joining the 76ers in free agency. He’s been limited to 78 combined games the past two seasons and is owed $110.72 million over the next two seasons, including his player option for the 2027-28 season. “I can’t believe they did that,” one executive whose team was consistently monitoring Brown’s availability said. “I’ve been sitting here thinking about it all day,” an executive whose team made an offer to land Brown also told HoopsHype late Monday night. When polled, most executives believe the Celtics made the 76ers stronger in the short term to compete in the Eastern Conference next season.
