{"id":203386,"date":"2026-07-01T20:39:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T00:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=203386"},"modified":"2026-07-01T20:39:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T00:39:58","slug":"nba-trade-76ers-cs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/01\/nba-trade-76ers-cs\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Trade Grades: 76ers Get A Big-Time Scorer As Celtics Decide To Go In Different Direction"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics have reached an agreement on a blockbuster, per ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania.\u00a0 The 76ers have acquired <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Brown<\/a> from the Celtics for<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Paul George<\/a> and four draft picks.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just in on <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SportsCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SportsCenter<\/a> &#8212; Boston sends Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and picks in a stunning blockbuster between East rivals: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rUmC0fXKNg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/rUmC0fXKNg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/2072448720004653443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>76ers Get A Big-Time Scorer As Celtics Decide To Go In Different Direction<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOB06At5jVI\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3072px; aspect-ratio: 3072\/2048;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<p>After two months of speculation and a failed attempt to send Brown to Milwaukee for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, the Celtics finally got their wish of ridding themselves of the 29-year-old. Brown now joins a 76ers team that is looking to take the next step with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joel Embiid.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Brown has been a consistent All-Star the past four seasons.\u00a0 But Brown really came up big this past season with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01\/gamelog-advanced\/2025\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> sidelined for more than three-fourths of the season as he recovered from his Achilles. Brown, who finished sixth in MVP voting, averaged 28.7 points. 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.7% from deep. He also produced 14 double-doubles and three triple-doubles.<\/p>\n<p>Brown is an excellent addition to the 76ers due to his two-way ability. Brown is a bucket-getter who had 35 games of at least 30 points and seven contests of 40 or more points. He tied his career-high of 50 points on January 3 against the Los Angeles Clippers.<\/p>\n<p>Brown thrives in isolation, which should take late-clock pressure off Embiid,\u00a0<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/maxeyty01\/gamelog-playoffs\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/edgecvj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">VJ Edgecombe<\/a>. While Brown&#8217;s ball-dominant tendencies are a concern, the Sixers won&#8217;t fall far defensively without George. Brown is an excellent defender who can guard four positions and fits Nick Nurse&#8217;s disruptive schemes like a glove. He has always been an active rebounder and has steadily improved his playmaking throughout his career.<\/p>\n<p>Brown&#8217;s acquisition closes a very busy day for the 76ers. Before the blockbuster deal, the Sixers signed free agents <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wadede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dean Wade<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hukpoar01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ariel Hukporti<\/a>. Wade inked a four-year, $39 million deal while Hukporti signed a one-year, $3.4 million pact.<\/p>\n<p>With the three moves, Philadelphia added just $15.2 million to its ledger due to George&#8217;s huge contract.\u00a0 The 76ers now have 13 players under contract, including rookie <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/philola01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Labaron Philon Jr,<\/a> with a $195 million cap hit. The Sixers will likely attempt to stay below the tax line with their next move or two.<\/p>\n<p>Brown has three years and $183.8 million left on his super max deal. He is eligible to sign a one-year contract extension starting at the end of the month.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Pretty clean swap of contracts<\/p>\n<p>To Boston<\/p>\n<p>Paul George<\/p>\n<p>2026-27: $54.1M<br \/>\n2027-28: $56.6M (Player)<\/p>\n<p>* Extension eligible<\/p>\n<p>To Philadelphia<\/p>\n<p>Jaylen Brown<\/p>\n<p>2026-27: $57M<br \/>\n2027-28: $61M<br \/>\n2028-29: $64.9M<\/p>\n<p>* Eligible to sign a 1 year extension on 7\/26<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BobbyMarks42\/status\/2072444769570328792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>76ers Trade Grade: B<\/h3>\n<p>In terms of financial minutiae, Philadelphia couldn&#8217;t do any better. The 76ers got the younger and better player while adding just under $3.0 million to their payroll. Plus, George was rarely available and made a huge mistake by testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. George appeared in only 79 games over the last two seasons and, compounded with Embiid&#8217;s injury history, didn&#8217;t make a good pairing.<\/p>\n<p>The 76ers are sending a 2028 first-round pick, which could be converted to a swap <span>more favorable to Boston. The Sixers also gave up a 2031 unprotected first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder ( most favorable of Golden State\/OKC\/Milwaukee), and a 2030 second (most favorable of Washington\/Portland\/Philadelphia)<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The 2028 pick Boston is getting, or swapping, with the Sixers is kind of complicated.<\/p>\n<p>Boston could get Philadelphia&#8217;s pick if it lands 1-8. If that pick is 9-30 it&#8217;s gone from the Sixers in a complicated swap that involves multiple teams.<\/p>\n<p>If the Philadelphia pick is 9-30, then\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KeithSmithNBA\/status\/2072450646838477291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Even with the trade, Philadelphia still has at least five future first-round picks (from 2027-2033). The 76ers also own at least 10 second-round selections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"a61405551f80e72f675225f083759bb9\" image-id=\"fwuQbaCPuBgF\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3900px; aspect-ratio: 3900\/2700;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h3>Celtics Trade Grade: C-<\/h3>\n<p>Not sure what Brad Stevens was thinking with this deal, but Brown must have really irked the Celtics brass this season. The Celtics have had a ton of success since taking Brown with the third overall pick in 2016. Over the last decade, the Celtics posted the NBA-best record at 578-304 and made six Eastern Conference finals and two NBA Finals. Of course, the C&#8217;s won the 2024 NBA championship.<\/p>\n<p>Boston saves at least $69 million over the next two seasons with the trade, as George has a player option next year, the final year of his deal. Moreover,<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pritcpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Payton Pritchard<\/a> is extension-eligible starting in September, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/whitede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Derrick White<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hausesa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Hauser<\/a>, and Tatum are extension-eligible next summer.<\/p>\n<p>George will start at small forward alongside Tatum and possibly <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/robinmi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mitchell Robinson<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/01\/mitchell-robinson\/\" target=\"_self\">who the Celtics took from New York<\/a> earlier in the day. Like Brown, George is an outstanding scorer, though the 36-year-old primarily does his work from the perimeter. Despite his age, George is still an elite, versatile defender.<\/p>\n<p>Boston&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/01\/celtics-steal-7-footer\/\" target=\"_self\">roster appears set<\/a> with 15 players under contract. The Celtics are close to the tax line, though they project to be slightly under it. The Celtics did increase their first-round draft capital to seven first-rounders and at least five second-round selections.<\/p>\n<p><span>Photo Credit: Winslow Townson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics have reached an agreement on a blockbuster, per ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania.\u00a0 The 76ers have acquired Jaylen Brown from the Celtics for Paul George and four draft picks. Just in on @SportsCenter &#8212; Boston sends Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and picks in a stunning blockbuster between East [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":203401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,2,62,3,13],"tags":[50498,1090,450,798,267,1616,50,49644],"class_list":["post-203386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-featured","category-nba","category-news","category-76ers","tag-2026-nba-trade","tag-derrick-white","tag-jaylen-brown","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-joel-embiid","tag-mitchell-robinson","tag-paul-george","tag-vj-edgecombe"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203386"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203402,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203386\/revisions\/203402"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}