Wednesday was one of those days in NBA free agency where you refresh your feed and something insane has already happened while you were pouring coffee. The Lakers started things off early by going all in on a Walker Kessler sign-and-trade with the Jazz, then added Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton in rapid succession. That alone would have been enough to dominate the news cycle.
But then the Celtics dropped a hammer that nobody really saw coming: They traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. For Paul George and picks. Seriously.
The deal has left people around the league scratching their heads. Brown is 29, a proven playoff performer and still squarely in his prime. George is 36 with an injury history that makes you hold your breath every time he lands on a jump shot. Boston got some draft capital back, sure, but the optics are strange. The Sixers now have a core of Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, which on paper looks terrifying. But they’ve also been linked to a LeBron James pursuit according to reports, even though that still feels like a long shot given the cap math and LeBron’s age.
What are the Celtics thinking? Maybe they pivot hard toward Trey Murphy III, who’s been on their radar. Maybe they try to bring Jrue Holiday back in some way. There’s been chatter about Holiday being available if the price is right, and Boston knows exactly what he brings after that championship run. The front office clearly believes in a retool on the fly rather than a full rebuild, but trading Brown for an aging star and picks is a gamble that could backfire spectacularly.
LeBron still out there, Duren situation unresolved
LeBron James remains the biggest free agent domino still on the board. He’s been quiet so far, which usually means something is cooking behind the scenes. The Lakers made their moves early, but whether that helps or hurts their chances of bringing him back is unclear.
Jalen Duren’s restricted free agency is another situation to watch. Several teams have interest, but no offer sheet has materialized yet. The same goes for a handful of other RFAs who are waiting for the market to shake out. Summer league rosters are starting to take shape too, and the early lineups suggest some teams are taking development seriously while others are just filling spots.
One thing is clear: The NBA offseason doesn’t slow down for anybody. Thursday’s action should bring more signings, more trades and more rumors. Stay close to your phone and don’t blink.
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