The Philadelphia 76ers were 100% right to make the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade. It was the best way for them to get off of George's contract (which is widely considered one of the worst in the league), and they got a better and younger player who can boost their championship odds (from the Boston Celtics, no less).
But while there has been a lot of talk about this being an awful trade for Boston (and rightfully so), there is also a good chance this backfires for the 76ers, too.
Jaylen Brown is not a good fit with the 76ers
Brown is better than George in 2026, but that doesn't mean he's a better fit on Philadelphia's roster.
Adding the Georgia native to a team that doesn't have great spacing (even after the signings of Dean Wade and former Celtics Anfernee Simons) isn't ideal. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe excel at getting to the basket and going downhill, and Joel Embiid practically lives in the midrange at this stage of his career.
While Brown can technically hit some threes (he's a career 35.8% shooter from behind the line), he's not the sharpshooter that George is (career 38.4 3FG% -- shot 39.2% from deep last season). And given that he is another player who excels inside the arc, the paint and midrange could get a little too crowded for the 76ers to actually run a legitimate offense.
The 76ers might miss Paul George more than they realize
At least on paper.
The 36-year-old is on his last legs in the NBA, and he has only played 70 or more games once since joining the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 (74 games during his final season with the team in 2023-24). Durability and age are George's biggest concerns right now, but when he does play, he still has a lot left in the tank.
George turned into a fantastic connector in Philadelphia, taking a backseat to Maxey, Edgecombe, and Embiid when necessary. He filled in the margins in every area, playing solid defense, being a secondary playmaker, and knocking down some threes.
Even if he's not the same All-NBA player he was at the peak of his career, George can still contribute to winning basketball (the Celtics saw this firsthand in the playoffs last season). It's the main reason Boston fans shouldn't totally shun him just yet, and it's also why this trade could backfire just as easily for the 76ers, too.
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