Paul George Has Now Been Traded for a Starting Five and Seven First Round Picks

The math on Paul George trades is getting ridiculous. After the Boston Celtics sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster that landed George and four draft picks, one fan on social media added up the full tally of what George has returned over his career. The number is bonkers.

George has now been involved in four major trades since 2017. The Pacers sent him to Oklahoma City. Two years later the Thunder moved him to the Clippers to pair with Kawhi Leonard. Last summer the Clippers dealt him to Philly. Now Boston has swapped a Finals MVP candidate in Brown for the 35-year-old wing. The combined return across those deals? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Domantas Sabonis, Victor Oladipo, Danilo Gallinari, seven unprotected first round picks and four pick swaps.

That’s essentially a starting five of All-Star caliber players plus a decade’s worth of draft capital. One fan put it simply: Paul George is the most valuable player in NBA history. Hyperbole? Sure. But the numbers don’t lie.

How Boston ended a 10 year partnership with Brown

The Celtics and Brown went to the playoffs every season together and won a title in 2024. That made the decision to move him even tougher. But the front office saw an opportunity to retool around Jayson Tatum and George without giving up the entire future. Boston got George and four picks from Philadelphia. The Sixers got Brown to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

There’s risk here. George played only 37 games last season due to injuries and a suspension. He averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Those numbers are fine but not peak Paul George. In the playoffs he put up 16.4 points and shot below his career averages from deep. The Celtics need more than fine. They need the guy who can guard the other team’s best wing and still drop 30 on the other end.

Boston finished 56-26 and grabbed the two seed in the East. Then they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Sixers in the first round. That collapse hung over everything this offseason. The roster churn was inevitable.

What comes next for the Celtics roster

The Celtics drafted the players they wanted. Now free agency is the next battleground. They have cap flexibility after the trade but also questions. Who plays the four next to Tatum and George? Can the second unit score consistently? The roster is thinner than it was a year ago.

One thing is certain: the George trade tree is already legendary. And if Boston doesn’t win another ring soon, that four-pick haul from Philly might look a lot less exciting.