Three weeks later and I think I somehow hate the trade even more than I did when it happened.
HOWEVER, Im still willing to bet the Celtics will be a better team that the Sixers this year.
PHI is going to have four guys who all think they are the best player on the team. When has that ever worked out well? I look at them and I see the 2018-19 Celtics - a group of talented guys who cant actually function as a unit. I think Brad, having had first-hand experience with a team like that, looks at the Sixers and sees the same thing I do. Also, outside of Embiid - who will likely miss half the seasons due to injuries per usual - they probably have the worst frontcourt in the entire NBA. Dean Wade (who is also constantly missing time due to injuries), Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti. Woof. The Celtics have a much more balanced roster imo.
On the Boston side of things, they are essentially swapping out Brown for Tatum and adding George and Mitchell into the mix (probably sparingly in the regular season in order to save them for the playoffs). They probably win the same or just under the same amount of games as last season - Have to factor in the east being alot better this year.
Im not trying to jusify the trade. The return is still embarrassing and inexcusable. Im just saying, after a few weeks of thinking this over, I dont think this trade is as bad for the Celtics or as good for the Sixers in the short term as many may have initially thought.