Philly Front Office

This is the most shocking news I have consumed about Philly sports since Cliff Lee came back in 2011. With no lead up, rumored connection, or buzz in any way the Sixers and Celtics made the following deal:

To Boston:

• Paul George
• 2028 most favorable 1st (Their seems to be some confusion about this, but my read is that the Celtics get the best Sixers pick no matter what. While we own the Clippers unprotected first that year, we also owe a top 8 protected pick to Brooklyn. Boston gets the best one regardless of what happens)
• 2031 Sixers 1st unprotected
• 2028 2nd (most favorable of many the Sixers have)
• 2030 2nd (most favorable of many the Sixers have)

To Philadelphia:

• Jaylen Brown

I was typing away about ways the Sixers could add to the back end of the roster after a ho hum start to free agency when my phone and brain exploded. There is a lot to take in here…

NBA Free Agency LIVE

The Trade

Word was that Boston was dangling Brown for Giannis then when that fell through it changed to 4 first round picks. No one was biting at that. Philadelphia ends up sending two first rounders (that could be pretty juicy) plus Paul George who is a positive player but a negative asset. Getting rid of George for two bad contracts was considered our best bet and now we move him for Jaylen Brown? Are you kidding???

Why was George so negative? Because he was owed $111m over the next two seasons. Despite still being a talented player, he is 36 years old and just not the superstar level at which he is paid. As for Brown, the salaries match because he is signed to a deal paying $183m over the next 3 seasons.

Those picks, especially the 2031 pick, could come back to haunt us, but it is a big swing without being a 2 strike count. This is not a franchise crippling trade by any means as the Sixers still have pieces they can move in the future.

Fit

This may be the hyperbole of my adrenaline speaking, but Brown is a pretty perfect fit in this lineup. You need two way players in order to compete for a championship and that is what Brown is. This is a Paul George level up. With Dean Wade just signed to be the 4, this might be the best offensive and defensive starting 5 in the East with the Knicks. Obviously, the health of Joel Embiid is always the big question, but in theory, adding Brown to Maxey, Edgecombe, Wade, and Embiid is the best starting lineup we’ve had since the Kawhi shot.

The only problem is the bench. Rookie Labaron Philon is the backup point guard. Dominick Brown is the back up power forward and we have two back up centers. Getting a serviceable 3 and D wing is now the priority because the depth just isn’t there. Kelly Oubre would have been great in this spot.

NBA Offseason 2026

Cap

Roster (CLICK to Open)

• STARTERS
  • Joel Embiid
    • $58m (3/$188m remaining with a player option)
  • Tyrese Maxey
    $40.7m (3/$130.7 remaining)
  • VJ Edgecombe
    • $11.6m (3/$39.2 remaining)
  • Dean Wade
    • $9m (4/$39m remaining)
  • Jaylen Brown
    • $57.1m (3/$183m remaining)
• RESERVES
  • PG2 – Labaron Philon
    • $3.6m (4/$17.8m remaining)
  • PF2 – Dominick Barlow
    • $3.4m (1/$3.4m remaining)
  • SG2 – Justin Edwards
    • $2.4m (2/$5m remaining with team option)
  • C2 – Adem Bona
    • $2.3m (2/$5.8m remaining with team option)
  • C3 – Ariel Hukporti
    • $3.4m (1/$3.4m remaining)
  • C4 – Johni Broome
    • $2.2m (3/$7.4m but years 2 and 3 non-guaranteed)
  • SF2 – Jabari Walker
    • $2.6m non-guaranteed (1/$2.6m remaining)
  • SG3 – Dalen Terry
    • $2.6m non-guaranteed (1/$2.6m remaining)

That’s around $198.8m for 13 players. The Sixers are hard capped at the 1st Apron, $209m. The luxury tax is just over $200m. Is there any way to continue to build this roster and fix our obvious need for wing depth? Why yes, there is.

The Sixers still have around $6m of their MLE to spend as well as possibly trading Johni Broome and another small deal. Combined they will be able to take back around double that, around $10m, in a trade. There is also a $4.4m trade exception from the Jared McCain deal. Basically, the Sixers have options.

You have to think the Sixers are a much more desirable trade destination now and could get vets taking discounts to come to Philly.

Verdict

The Sixers are a much better team than they were yesterday. Brown is a complete player who fits exactly what the Sixers need, is only 29 years old (as opposed to 36), and has the biggest chip on his shoulder possible. To give up only two firsts to get him is a steal considering we are also getting rid of the Paul George contract which was a negative asset. Could the 2028 Clippers pick or the 2031 pick come back to haunt us? Of course. Plus, since it’s the Celtics, it probably will, but this is the best use of those picks possible right now.

The Sixers were in purgatory for at least the next two years the way we were built. Today though, there is finally hope and something new to cheer for with Philly basketball. Goddamn we needed something like this.