Just hours after poaching center Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks in free agency, the Boston Celtics traded superstar guard/forward Jaylen Brown to another Eastern Conference foe.

As Shams Charania of ESPN reports, Brown is being sent to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

This ends the career of Brown in Boston after 10 seasons and breaks up the duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum after nine years together. The two advanced to the NBA Finals in 2021-22 and then won the title in 2023-24. Brown was named the Finals MVP.

The No. 3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Cal, Brown is working toward a Hall of Fame career that won't see its conclusion in Boston. A five-time All-Star, Brown is also a two-time All-NBA selection. He made the NBA's All-Second team this year and finished sixth in the MVP voting. He averaged 28.7 ppg while taking the Celtics to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Ironically, the Celtics were eliminated by the 76ers in seven games in the first round.

Brown will pair with the likes of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to make up one of the most formidable groups in the Eastern Conference. 

A 16-year veteran of the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and 76ers, George is a nine-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA selection, a four-time All-Defensive team member, and he also won the steals crown in 2018-19.

A career 20.5 ppg scorer, he's now 36 years old. He averaged 17.3 ppg for the 76ers last season, but he only played 37 games. He has played 60 games or less in six of the last seasons, meaning there's real concern about his age and health in this deal.

Well, George has only two years left on his contract, whereas Brown had three, so the Celtics will head for salary flexibility one year earlier. Furthermore, the multiple draft picks allow the Celtics to potentially get younger through the draft - or to trade those picks in future deals to help the roster.

Also, Brown was potentially so unhappy about getting included in a trade offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo that the idea of keeping him became untenable.

We'll have much more coverage on this story as it develops.

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