The mystery behind the Jaylen Brown trade
Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst have revealed behind-the-scenes details of the blockbuster deal, from the Boston Celtics’ initial asking price to an agreement that stunned the entire NBA
It had become increasingly clear that Jaylen Brown was on his way out of the Boston Celtics, but few expected him to land with the rival Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a package that appeared far less valuable than what league rumors had suggested just days earlier.
Shams Charania revealed that the Sixers had been pursuing Brown for days – if not weeks. According to him, Boston’s initial demands were dramatically different from what they ultimately accepted.
The Sixers’ president reached out to the Celtics and made multiple offers over the past few weeks… the Celtics’ asking price was extremely high. They believed that if they were going to move Paul George, they’d need four or five first-round picks or a player like VJ Edgecombe. Those were the initial demands. Other teams around the league could have stepped in or pivoted to different deals, but the Sixers stayed the course… they kept pushing and ended up being the last team standing
Shams Charania
Going from that level of asking price to accepting a package centered around a 36-year-old Paul George and just two first-round picks naturally raises plenty of questions. Something must have changed behind the scenes – something that, at least for now, has yet to emerge from the Celtics’ front office.
Brian Windhorst shares that belief, suggesting there’s more to the story than anyone currently knows.
This isn’t the kind of trade you make under normal circumstances… in a typical situation, a deal like this simply doesn’t happen. Clearly, something about this situation wasn’t normal
Brian Windhorst
Perhaps one day it will become clear whether there was pressure from someone – possibly Brown himself or the team’s ownership – on Brad Stevens to complete the trade. For now, however, Celtics fans have directed their frustration squarely at Boston’s President of Basketball Operations.
Across social media and throughout the league, there has been widespread disbelief over the return Stevens accepted. Charania also described how other NBA executives reacted once news of the deal broke.
My phone was flooded with messages from around the league saying, ‘Paul George and draft picks???’ Once it became known that Jaylen Brown was available, for whatever reason, his value started to drop
Shams Charania
Those comments suggest that Brad Stevens may not have managed the situation as effectively as many expected. The decision to move Boston’s best player – especially after the failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo – has left many around the league questioning the logic behind it.
In the end, the trade raises more questions than answers. Boston is moving forward, but the feeling remains that this story is far from over.