Jaylen Brown 'excited and disappointed' after Celtics-76ers trade
Jaylen Brown says he feels "excited and disappointed" after the Boston Celtics traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and four draft picks. The 2024 Finals MVP broke his silence Thursday in a social media statement, thanking Boston fans while saying he is still processing the stunning jaylen brown celtics 76ers blockbuster.
The trade, reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, cannot become official until Monday. It sent one of the league's top stars to a division rival days after Boston's failed bid to include Brown in a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Key Takeaways
- Brown called himself "excited and disappointed" in his first public comments since the Celtics agreed to send him to Philadelphia.
- Boston received Paul George plus two first-round picks (2028, 2031) and two second-round picks (2028, 2030) in return.
- HoopsHype reports the return left numerous NBA executives around the league bewildered given Brown's age and production.
- Philadelphia pairs Brown with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, while Yahoo Sports featured former Celtic Brian Scalabrine on how Boston moves forward.
- The Celtics had explored trading Brown to Milwaukee before Antetokounmpo landed with the Miami Heat, per ESPN.
What did Jaylen Brown say about the trade?
Brown posted a lengthy statement Thursday on social media, his first remarks since Wednesday's agreement. "I'm still processing how this all went down," he wrote. "I'm excited and disappointed at the same time."
He thanked Boston's fans and community, referencing the championship they won together and relationships built over 10 seasons. Brown emphasized respect he felt he had earned in the city, writing that he "never asked for shortcuts or special treatment."
"Saying goodbye isn't easy when you've invested your heart into something," Brown added. He closed by signaling readiness to work in Philadelphia: "Philly — throw the ball up let's get it."
Why did the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to the 76ers?
According to ESPN, Brown's standing in Boston had been uncertain for weeks. The Celtics reportedly included him in trade talks with the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was ultimately traded to the Miami Heat instead.
The deal sent the 2024 Finals MVP and five-time All-Star — now 18th on the Celtics' all-time scoring list — to an Atlantic Division rival. For more on shocking sports twists, see our Bizarre World coverage.
What does the deal mean for both teams?
Philadelphia adds a 29-year-old star in his prime. HoopsHype reports new Sixers president Mike Gansey has quickly reshaped the roster, with Brown bridging the gap between Joel Embiid and the young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.
Boston lands 36-year-old Paul George, a nine-time All-Star who has not made an All-Star team since signing with Philadelphia and was limited to 78 combined games over the past two seasons, according to HoopsHype. Numerous executives around the league were bewildered by the return.
The Celtics also collected significant draft capital, though ESPN notes the move cannot be formally announced until Monday. Brown is owed roughly $183 million over the next three seasons — prime years that Philadelphia believes can help the franchise compete now.
How are people reacting to the blockbuster?
Yahoo Sports paired Brown's statement with analysis from former Celtic Brian Scalabrine on how Boston moves forward without its longtime star. The video coverage landed as the NBA continued digesting one of the summer's most stunning moves.
HoopsHype reports that rival front offices struggled to understand the Celtics' return, describing league reaction as bewildered. Brown's dual emotions — gratitude for Boston, optimism for Philly — capture the human side of a trade that reshaped the Eastern Conference overnight.