We finally got the Giannis trade that was prophesized for so many epochs, and then we get one of the most random transactions since, well, actually it hasn’t been that long since Luka was traded… so granted, this trade wasn’t to that level, but I’d proffer to say it wasn’t that far off either. I mean, for a large part of the off season, most of the buzz were based on rumors that Giannis and Brown would be traded for each other. But nope, Jaylen Brown wanted his own team, and he got nothing close to that. We’ll obviously be pontificating more on the Sixers and what kind of wildness awaits all of us, but for the purpose of this post, we’ll focus on one of the craziest trades in NBA history and also just the past two years.
- Sixers acquire Jaylen Brown.
- Celtics acquire Paul George, a 2028 first-round pick or pick swap (details below), the Sixers’ 2031 first-round pick, either the Warriors’, Thunder’s, or Bucks’ 2028 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and either the Wizards’, Trail Blazers’, or Suns’ 2030 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).
So I know chronological rules force me to discuss Brown first, but rules were meant to be broken. But not secret rules people, or else why call em secret, ya know? But let’s talk about Paul George really quick. I think we know what’s up, especially those who have watched George, either with our eyes or your team stat sheet, but he certainly is not the same player he was with the Clippers, and just to state the obvious, Pacers PG is dead and gone for good. Some in the media definitely forget this, but we don’t.
Let’s be real, it’s no mistake that the best stats PG put up last year was because of a suspension that kept him from playing basketball. Says enough about a player when you want to keep him out of basketball shape to keep him in basketball shape, but it wouldn’t have mattered either way, because by the time Podcast P was showing flashes of Playoff P, it most likely didn’t help your fantasy team whatsoever.
Will it happen like that again this season? Probably not. Is Paul George washed? Most certainly not, and while I think the Celtics are a garbage team and fan base, that notion is fueled purely by emotion. Playing a responsible adult commentator, when I squint in a vacuum (SO MANY DESCRIPTORS) I actually do like PG and the match with the Celtics and think when he does play, can thrive in this system and the types of things he was doing with the Sixers last year. But keep it measured and don’t over-reach, I sense that he’s a sleeper and a good value guy, but I’m guessing that’s pretty obvious to everyone else too, so maybe don’t pay for the inevitable disappoint it is to own Paul George…
Jaylen Brown’s side is actually easier to project. While Paul George certainly retains value with his new home, Brown’s value is ultimately tied to usage, and that is exactly the one thing we all know will suffer as the Sixers will have plenty of ball handling power at almost every single position.
Certainly expect another solid year, but Jaylen Brown is going to be taking a step back and I’m not sure what that looks like quite yet. Should we be paying to find out? Probably not…
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell who is totally alive and well!
