The Jaylen Brown trade is official, and the full picture of what the Celtics got back from the 76ers is finally out in the open. It’s not just Paul George heading to Boston. There’s a messy stack of draft picks involved, and the details are more complicated than most people expected.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, here’s the full list of picks going to Boston: the Clippers’ 2028 first-round pick (which becomes an unprotected swap right if it lands in the top 16), the 76ers’ 2028 first-round pick, Philadelphia’s unprotected 2031 first-rounder, the most favorable second-round pick in 2028 among Golden State, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, and the most favorable 2030 second-rounder among Phoenix, Portland and Washington.
That’s a lot of moving parts. The 2028 draft could be a huge opportunity for Boston if they play their cards right. But right now, Celtics fans are still processing the fact that Brown is gone and George is taking his spot in the starting five.
Boston looked like a real threat in the East for most of last season. Now they’re running it back with a different kind of player. George brings better three-point shooting and smarter help defense, but he’s not the athlete Brown is. His health is always a question mark, and he doesn’t put the same kind of pressure on opposing defenses. A lot of fans have been directing their frustration at Brad Stevens for making this move.
It’s possible Stevens flips some of those draft assets for a win-now piece before the season starts. The team hasn’t ruled that out. But for now, the Celtics are moving forward with a roster that looks good on paper and feels different in reality.
One thing is clear: the 2028 draft is going to be a big deal in Boston’s front office. Whether they stockpile picks or package them for a star, it’s the most interesting long-term piece of this whole deal. The short-term reaction from fans has been brutal. But the trade is done, and the Celtics are living with it.
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