The Celtics’ decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George and two future first-round picks has left many around the league surprised, even after weeks of trade speculation surrounding Brown.
Boston had previously been seeking as many as four or five first-round picks in exchange for Brown and had even included him in a failed trade proposal for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Many executives believe Philadelphia would have needed to attach a first-round pick simply to move George’s contract.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, rival teams believe the Celtics felt pressured to complete a deal.
“Other teams in the league felt like this looked like a trade that was made under duress,” Windhorst said. “That you wouldn’t make this trade if everything was equal.”
Windhorst also questioned why Boston rushed to move Brown, especially to a division rival that had recently eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs.
“Even if you believe that Jaylen Brown had played his last game for you, there’s just no reason to feel any pressure to make this move on July 1st.”
Despite the criticism, Windhorst noted that Boston’s front office has a long history of making carefully considered decisions and likely has a rationale that has yet to be revealed.
Rival Executives Believe Celtics Made Jaylen Brown Trade 'Under Duress' https://t.co/FV5rTX2vdH
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 2, 2026
