Jaylen Traded to PHI for PG, 2 First Round Picks & 2 Second Round Picks

[gift]

And what exactly is the deal with the 2028 first?

2028 First-Round Pick: An unprotected first-rounder from the 76ers, with a stipulation that it can convert into a pick swap if it becomes more favorable to the Celtics

How could a pick swap ever be more favorable to BOS than simply getting the pick from PHI and keeping the one BOS already has?  I don't see how it could be more favorable to do a swap.

It is the highest pick available between Philly, and the Clippers in 2028 in basic terms. We owe OUR first to SAS (top 1 protected) and we get Philly's first if it is 1-8. If it is not 1-8, we get the Clippers position wherever it falls.

And with the Clippers holding a firesale yesterday, we will most likely get a lottery pick from the Clippers.

Thanks, good breakdown.  But under what scenario could this become a swap?  Is there any scenario where BOS only gets 1 first round pick out of this and not 2?  That 2028 becomes a swap (net 0 picks)?

I am speculating here but thinking that it's called a swap because if Boston somehow got the number 1 pick, they could keep their own pick, otherwise swap it to the better pick. So no I don't think they will be out of a first round pick. It's just a matter of which pick it actually becomes. Clippers pick is most likely.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

An interesting article (don't know whether it was posted yet):

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/did-the-celtics-give-away-jaylen-brown-why-analytics-dont-see-phillys-new-star-as-elite-of-elite-004011270.html

I was hoping someone would write an article like this. It gives me hope.

I wish George was younger, but with giving minutes to better players according to the analytics, a gameplan that gets us to the rim more, the addition of Robinson, and growth from all our young guys, maybe we will be a better team.

[celticinorlando]

Slept on it and still have so many questions:

1. What has happened for the Cs to want Brown out of the organization so badly that they basically got a 2031 first round pick and 2 second round picks for him? Any team taking PG would have gotten the first round pick to take him. This is when bad teams take on bad contracts to rebuild. And you trade him to your rival making them better?

2. What other moves can be made to make the roster better so we do not waste 2 more years of JT's prime?

3. Can PG give the Cs 70 games this season? Can he play like he did in the playoffs?

4. What is the vision for this team now? Certainly not title contenders the next 2 seasons.

5. Why did Brad low ball the Bucks for Giannis? Arrogance? Did not read the room?

Obvious Brown was overvalued by a lot of folks in Boston. GMs see him about like a lot of Celtics fans on here see him. Good player but not great. Not worth what was being asked.

[jambr380]

And what exactly is the deal with the 2028 first?

2028 First-Round Pick: An unprotected first-rounder from the 76ers, with a stipulation that it can convert into a pick swap if it becomes more favorable to the Celtics

How could a pick swap ever be more favorable to BOS than simply getting the pick from PHI and keeping the one BOS already has?  I don't see how it could be more favorable to do a swap.

It is the highest pick available between Philly, and the Clippers in 2028 in basic terms. We owe OUR first to SAS (top 1 protected) and we get Philly's first if it is 1-8. If it is not 1-8, we get the Clippers position wherever it falls.

And with the Clippers holding a firesale yesterday, we will most likely get a lottery pick from the Clippers.

Thanks, good breakdown.  But under what scenario could this become a swap?  Is there any scenario where BOS only gets 1 first round pick out of this and not 2?  That 2028 becomes a swap (net 0 picks)?

We most likely are only getting a swap. The Clippers would have to be good for us to keep our pick and not swap it. But that would actually be a bad thing. Because of our swap with the Spurs, our pick is likely to be end of 1st round. We would much rather have a high lottery pick and not our pick than two picks in the 20s

[jpotter33]

Actually I don?t know maybe BRobb was wrong. Here?s a good breakdown of the 2028 pick:

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/07/details-on-2028-pick-involved-in-celtics-sixers-trade.html

[A Future of Stevens]

And what exactly is the deal with the 2028 first?

2028 First-Round Pick: An unprotected first-rounder from the 76ers, with a stipulation that it can convert into a pick swap if it becomes more favorable to the Celtics

How could a pick swap ever be more favorable to BOS than simply getting the pick from PHI and keeping the one BOS already has?  I don't see how it could be more favorable to do a swap.

It is the highest pick available between Philly, and the Clippers in 2028 in basic terms. We owe OUR first to SAS (top 1 protected) and we get Philly's first if it is 1-8. If it is not 1-8, we get the Clippers position wherever it falls.

And with the Clippers holding a firesale yesterday, we will most likely get a lottery pick from the Clippers.

Thanks, good breakdown.  But under what scenario could this become a swap?  Is there any scenario where BOS only gets 1 first round pick out of this and not 2?  That 2028 becomes a swap (net 0 picks)?

Per Brian Robb, that was misinformation. We?ll get a second pick regardless. It?s just unknown at this time what combination of picks from the four teams it?ll be given swaps and prior deals - Boston, Philly, LAC, SAS.

And AFOS - 2028 is a swap with SAS not us giving it to them fully.

Oh that's true, good catch. In all of this negativity I think I'm seeing everything half empty.

All things considered, it's likely in 2028 we have a lottery pick (not bad with the new lottery odds, even if the Clippers limp to like 10 or something) and a late 1st.

[vjcsmoke]

WORST trade I've ever seen in Celtics history.

We get a 36 year old broken down shell of Paul George who has declined each of the past two seasons and two 1st round picks that will be in the late 20s for what purpose? Just to SALARY DUMP Brown and get back a player who still makes 50m+ for the next 2 seasons?

I absolutely HATE this deal. You don't deal a top 15 player in his PRIME just to salary dump. I really don't get this. We don't even get a young piece to rebuild with from this trade.

Paul George is a NEGATIVE trade asset. Why have you done this Brad?

Whoa. My god

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
1m
BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

[Vermont Green]

Actually I don't know maybe BRobb was wrong. Here?s a good breakdown of the 2028 pick:

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/07/details-on-2028-pick-involved-in-celtics-sixers-trade.html

Reading this, the most likely scenario is that 2028 is in fact a swap.  But it really is not that bad.  To understand this, you need to make an assumption about the SAS-BOS Swap.  I assume that the net for BOS of this swap will be a pick in the 25 or higher range.

As to PHI, if one or both of LAC and PHI are in the lottery, BOS gets that lottery pick but has to send the net SAS/BOS pick back to PHI.  So probably trading a pick in the high 20s for a lottery pick.  A very good outcome.

If LAC is outside the lottery and PHI is 9-30, BOS gets LAC pick and does not need to send back the net SAS/BOS pick.

The SAS/BOS swap is top 1 protected so if somehow BOS gets the #1 pick in 2028, they don't have to swap with SAS and don't have to swap with PHI.  They can just keep that pick and PHI gets to keep whatever they end up with between them and LAC.

So I think the net of this is that if the PHI pick is a lottery pick, either due to PHI or LAC, BOS gets that lottery pick but has to send the net of SAS/BOS pick back.  If the PHI pick is not in the lottery, BOS gets the PHI pick and gets to keep the net SAS/BOS pick.  So a lottery pick or two likely non-lottery picks.

[byennie]

Sunk costs is about all I can say about this trade. Yes, it's a heartbreaking return, but if someone was offering more we would have taken it.

We'll see what happens, there's a lot of rationalization involved here but a few things DO seem to be true:

1) Analytics don't love Brown, much less a $70M / year extension. I do believe this can be taken too far, but the fact remains that he's a below-average 3PT shooter, below-average FT shooter, poor passer and his +/- is probably not an aberration after many years of trailing other top players. He's more productive than ever, but this league MVP stuff is ludicrous except for Tatum's injury.

2) Brown considers himself an MVP-level player and has developed at least a bit of a smug, smarter-than-you attitude that can go south fast in a locker room. He's no Kyrie, some teammates may love him, but he's almost certainly rubbing SOME people the wrong way. Risk of butting heads in the next 4 years (with extension) is through the roof.

3) Tatum remains the better player, and it's not real close. Some people prefer Brown's *style*, and an any given night or series there's a chance Brown plays better. But every measure at any scale says Tatum is the guy.

4) Boston is an analytics house. There is no other measure - that IS reality to them. In their world, White is likely the better player and George is just fine as a stop-gap. He's more efficient than Brown and White / Pritchard / others can pick up the usage making a better overall offense. In theory. They don't see a steep decline.

It is what it is... we should still be favored to win ~55 games this year. What we need is Tatum healthy,  top defense, and locker room chemistry. If New York can run off a title, we remain at least a fringe contender.

[ozgod]

Question - are we mad because JB was traded, or are we mad because we got PG13 and only 2 picks in return, when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we might get Giannis at least?  Like if somehow PG0 contributes, maybe not scoring 28ppg but adds to winning and we keep winning, is all forgiven? Or nothing will heal this wound?

[nyceltsfan]

Question - are we mad because JB was traded, or are we mad because we got PG13 and only 2 picks in return, when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we might get Giannis at least?  Like if somehow PG0 contributes, maybe not scoring 28ppg but adds to winning and we keep winning, is all forgiven? Or nothing will heal this wound?

In my opinion, nothing short of a championship heals this wound.  They don?t have to win it all next year, but if and when they ever win again, all will be okay.

[Birdman]

Question - are we mad because JB was traded, or are we mad because we got PG13 and only 2 picks in return, when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we might get Giannis at least?  Like if somehow PG0 contributes, maybe not scoring 28ppg but adds to winning and we keep winning, is all forgiven? Or nothing will heal this wound?

Im mad cause could got a better deal than George, who?s 36 & making more money & picks that are just a gamble.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Question - are we mad because JB was traded, or are we mad because we got PG13 and only 2 picks in return, when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we might get Giannis at least?  Like if somehow PG0 contributes, maybe not scoring 28ppg but adds to winning and we keep winning, is all forgiven? Or nothing will heal this wound?

Definitely the latter. I was ready to move on from JB after 2022. I never liked the fit with Tatum, even if we won a title. We had a lot of things go our way in 2024, injuries to star players in the first 3 rounds and an incredibly favorable Dallas matchup. I was expecting JB to get traded this offseason, and would have been ecstatic if it was for Giannis. After that fell through I certainly expected something to happen. But to trade a soon to be 30 year old guy who just finished 6th in MVP voting for 36 year old declining Paul George and only 2 firsts feels insultingly bad. Look at the packages old man Kawhi and Walker Kessler got. I get that people think JB is overpaid and due a massive extension, but still feels like we got nowhere near enough value.

[Jiri Welsch]

Question - are we mad because JB was traded, or are we mad because we got PG13 and only 2 picks in return, when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we might get Giannis at least?  Like if somehow PG0 contributes, maybe not scoring 28ppg but adds to winning and we keep winning, is all forgiven? Or nothing will heal this wound?

In my opinion, nothing short of a championship heals this wound.  They don?t have to win it all next year, but if and when they ever win again, all will be okay.

Quoting you just as an example, not trying to fixate on you specifically. So apologies in advance if it comes across as pointed.

Some seem to think the Jays could still win a title in this new CBA climate. Others did not.

If you think the Jays could still win a title this definitely stings a lot more.

[LilRip]

Question - are we mad because JB was traded, or are we mad because we got PG13 and only 2 picks in return, when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we might get Giannis at least?  Like if somehow PG0 contributes, maybe not scoring 28ppg but adds to winning and we keep winning, is all forgiven? Or nothing will heal this wound?

I would have loved to get Giannis. But if that was never in the cards, then I am just mad about the picks, or the lack thereof.

Getting Paul George is whatever. He is obviously worse now than JB but I view PG primarily as an expiring contract for next year.