"As for the Celtics, Yikes!" — NBA Insider Weighs In on Jaylen Brown to 76ers Trade

The Philadelphia 76ers did not just get out of Paul George's massive contract.

They turned it into Jaylen Brown.

That is the kind of move that changes the way a team’s offseason should be viewed. Philadelphia still has questions to answer about fit, depth, and health, but the larger point is hard to ignore. The Sixers got younger, more physical, and more dangerous while adding a wing who still brings legitimate star value.

That is why NBA insider Kevin O’Connor’s reaction made perfect sense. After the trade, O’Connor posted "Crazy crazy crazy...hell of an upgrade for the Sixers. Totally bolsters their odds. As for the Celtics: YIKES!"

It is difficult to disagree with this assessment.

For Philadelphia, this is not only about replacing one big name with another. It is about replacing an aging, expensive question mark with a player who gives the roster more athleticism and playoff upside.

He can attack downhill, create his own shot, defend multiple positions, and bring a level of physicality the Sixers did not consistently get from George. Next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, Brown gives Philadelphia another player defenses have to respect in the half-court. 

However, it is fair to question the fit. 

On paper, there is some awkwardness. Maxey is a smaller guard. Edgecombe is another explosive backcourt player. Brown has spent much of his career operating as a wing, but he is not a traditional forward. That could make the lineup construction a little tight.

Still, it is workable.

Brown and Edgecombe both play bigger than their listed positions. Brown has the strength to defend up a spot, absorb contact, and handle bigger wings. Edgecombe’s athleticism and defensive tools give him a chance to guard larger players in certain matchups as well. Philadelphia may not have a textbook positional structure, but it has enough physicality and talent to make one of those players function at the three when needed.

There will still be kinks to work out in terms of offensive fit and how everyone will get their shots, but for Philadelphia, that may be a problem worth solving. 

Boston’s side is more complicated.

At first, the deal looks baffling. The Celtics still have Jayson Tatum in his prime. They already won a championship with Tatum and Brown as the foundation. Moving Brown for George and picks makes Boston worse right now unless another major move follows.

But there is another layer.

Brown has not exactly hidden the idea that he has sacrificed in Boston. Earlier this year, he said he felt like he had “sacrificed over the years” for the Celtics to be a championship-caliber team, adding that people were now seeing what he was capable of. That does not mean he demanded his own spotlight, but it does support the idea that Brown was aware of what he gave up while sharing the stage with Tatum.

In Philadelphia, he gets a different kind of opportunity.

He may not be the unquestioned No. 1 option with Embiid and Maxey still in place, but he gets a larger offensive claim than he likely had in Boston. 

For the Celtics, though, the pressure now shifts to Brad Stevens. If this is the first step in a larger retool, the trade can be judged differently. Draft capital, flexibility, and George’s veteran presence could become part of a bigger plan.

But if this is the move, it is hard to defend.

Boston traded away a younger, better, more impactful player while Tatum is still squarely in his prime. That is a dangerous step backward unless the next step is already lined up.

For now, though, Philadelphia looks like the clear winner.

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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].