Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to 76ers for Paul George, add first-round picks

Boston announced a trade that sends forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for veteran wing Paul George, along with two first-round picks (2028 via the Clippers and the team’s own 2031 pick) and two second-round selections, a league source said. The deal, reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Athletic, has not yet been finalized.

George, 36, concludes a two-season stint with the 76ers that included one playoff series win, multiple knee injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Brown, the third overall pick in 2016, spent ten seasons with Boston, reaching the playoffs each year, advancing to the conference finals six times and the NBA Finals twice, and earning the 2024 Finals MVP as the Celtics captured their first championship in 16 years.

Boston’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens indicated the organization felt urgency after an early playoff exit, prompting the move while Brown’s market value remained high. The Celtics will now look to integrate Paul George and assess the impact of the additional draft assets on their rebuilding timeline.