Jaylen Brown Era Ends In Boston; Celtics Acquire Paul George In Major Trade

Last Updated:July 02, 2026, 05:51 IST

Jaylen Brown's decade-long Boston Celtics career is over after a blockbuster trade sent the NBA Finals MVP to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George and draft picks.

Boston’s championship-winning core has officially been broken up.

Just weeks after helping the Celtics to another deep playoff run, five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers in one of the biggest trades of the NBA offseason.

In return, Boston will receive veteran forward Paul George along with a package of future draft picks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The deal brings the curtain down on Brown’s 10-year stint in Boston, where he evolved from the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft into one of the franchise’s modern greats. Brown leaves as a five-time All-Star and, perhaps most memorably, as the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP after leading the Celtics to their record 18th NBA championship.

The trade comes just days after Brown’s name surfaced in talks involving Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. While that blockbuster never materialised following Giannis’ move to the Miami Heat, it became increasingly clear that Boston was exploring the trade market.

According to ESPN, the Celtics were “full-blown shopping" Brown by Wednesday, although the star forward never requested a move away from the franchise.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, lands another proven two-way star to strengthen its title ambitions. Brown now joins forces with former MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, giving the 76ers one of the league’s most talented cores. The addition comes after Philadelphia reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, but the franchise is still chasing its first trip to the Conference Finals since 2001.

Boston’s return centers around George, whose second season in Philadelphia was disrupted by injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The nine-time All-Star averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds across just 37 appearances but remains one of the league’s premier two-way wings when healthy.

The Celtics have also secured significant draft capital in the deal. The package includes first-round picks in 2028 and an unprotected 2031 selection, along with second-round picks in 2028 and 2030. The 2028 first-rounder could convert into a pick swap more favourable to Boston, while both second-round selections carry the most favourable protections from multiple teams.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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