The Philadelphia 76ers reportedly considered themselves a 'long shot' to land Jaylen Brown before pulling off a major trade with the Boston Celtics this past July.
Why did the 76ers think the Brown trade was unlikely?
Tony Jones reported that the Sixers saw themselves as underdogs in the sweepstakes for the All-Star forward. Conventional wisdom at the time suggested Brown was more likely to land with a team in the Western Conference than with a direct division rival. The dynamics shifted when reports surfaced that Boston had placed Brown on the trade block in an unsuccessful attempt to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. Even with that pressure on the Celtics, Philadelphia's front office remained skeptical about their chances.
What other teams were involved in trade talks?
The Minnesota Timberwolves also had 'real discussions' with the Celtics about a potential Brown trade earlier in the offseason. The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reported this on the CLNS Celtics Daily podcast. However, Minnesota found Boston's asking price for Brown too high. The Wolves' front office was ultimately 'happy with the LaMelo fit a little bit more than they would have been with the Jaylen fit,' Krawczynski said. Minnesota then finalized a separate deal with the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball.
How did the 76ers finally complete the deal?
The Sixers agreed to send Paul George and four draft picks, including two first-round selections, to Boston for Jaylen Brown. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens later explained the move, stating the Sixers' first-rounders represented 'two potential premium assets' for Boston's future. Brown's arrival in Philadelphia had an immediate ripple effect. He reportedly played a part in recruiting LeBron James, who signed a two-year deal with the 76ers later that same month.
What is the current context for the 76ers?
Brown is set to make his regular-season debut for Philadelphia on October 20 against the New York Knicks. A highly anticipated reunion with Jayson Tatum and his former Celtics teammates is scheduled for November 10 when Boston visits. You can track their progress and upcoming matchups on our schedule page. Integrating Brown and James into the lineup will be the primary focus for the coaching staff as they look to reverse this trend and build chemistry ahead of a new campaign.
