Jaylen Brown Trade Grades: Celtics' Return Package Falls Flat; 76ers Make Major Upgrade

Jaylen Brown Trade Grades: Celtics’ Return Package Falls Flat; 76ers Make Major Upgrade originally appeared on NESN.
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Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP and one of the faces of the Celtics for the past decade, saw his time in Boston come to a close on Wednesday when he was traded to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and multiple draft picks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

After being drafted by the Celtics in 2016, Brown not only helped lead Boston to a championship, but also earned plenty of individual accolades, including five All-Star selections. He steadily improved, going from a rookie who averaged 6.6 points per game to a Finals MVP who could be both the primary engine of an offense and a stellar defender on the wing.

With this trade, the Celtics are declaring that Jayson Tatum is the undisputed No. 1 option and relying on George to replace Brown’s production in the starting lineup. Did Boston’s front office pull the trigger at the right time? Or did Philadelphia take advantage of a rival’s desire to make a big offseason move?

Jaylen Brown trade details

• Celtics receive: Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks
• 76ers receive: Jaylen Brown

The Celtics acquired George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks from Philadelphia in the blockbuster deal.

Here are the full details on the draft picks, per Charania:

Details on 76ers picks to the Celtics, per sources:

— 2028 first-round pick that could convert from a first to a swap that is more favorable to Boston

— 2031 unprotected Philadelphia first

— 2028 second round, most favorable of GSW/OKC/MIL

— 2030 second, most favorable… https://t.co/nbxdEsvB4f

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026

Jaylen Brown trade grades

Celtics: D+

After Boston was left with the losing ticket in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, it felt like the Celtics were going to receive a disappointing return package in a Brown trade. That’s exactly what happened here.

The Celtics were reportedly asking for four first-round picks in trade discussions involving Brown. They settled for two.

They were chasing a 31-year-old former MVP who could have added a completely new dimension to the offense. Instead, they got George, a 36-year-old forward who has aged out of his prime and struggled to stay healthy. If George deals with another injury, it would be a massive blow to the Celtics’ championship hopes and financial outlook, as he is on the books for $54.1 million in 2026-27 and has a $58.6 million player option in 2027-28.

Yes, the draft capital does provide some future flexibility. The two first-rounders coming from Philadelphia could be flipped in another trade, but they don’t change the immediate reality that the star power next to Tatum and depth behind him is suddenly looking thin. Boston is simply not in the same tier as other top contenders.

Instead of building a sustainable bridge to Tatum’s next chapter, the Celtics have locked themselves into a short-term window with a roster that feels cobbled together rather than carefully constructed.

Imagn Images

76ers: A-

The 76ers turned an aging star and future draft picks into an elite wing with prime years still ahead of him. Coming off a season in which he posted a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, Brown gives Philadelphia the dynamic, durable slasher that it desperately needed to ease the burden on Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

With Brown in the starting lineup, the 76ers have one of the most talented groups in the NBA. While there will be concerns about how a ball-dominant Brown will mesh with Embiid, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — not to mention the constant concerns about Embiid’s health — this trade makes Nick Nurse’s squad much more intriguing.

The 76ers only get a minus here because of potential chemistry issues and the questions about the rest of the rotation. Trading away those draft picks alongside George strips away some of Philadelphia’s flexibility.

Still, this was a worthwhile gamble for a Sixers squad that was stuck in the middle.

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