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Joe Mazzulla credited Jaylen Brown for improving him as a coach, while bettors have been far less sentimental about Boston Celtics’ decision to replace him with Paul George.
Brown Left a Mark on Mazzulla
Joe Mazzulla has addressed Jaylen Brown’s departure from the Boston Celtics, admitting that the trade required some emotional processing.
“He made me a better coach,” Mazzulla said. “The way he pushed me, the way he pushed himself, the way he pushed the locker room, he made me a better coach.”
Jaylen Brown spent 10 seasons in Boston and helped the franchise win the 2024 NBA championship, earning Finals MVP honors along the way. His exit became official on July 6, when the Boston Celtics sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Boston Traded Peak Production for Picks
The deal is difficult to judge on current production alone. Jaylen Brown averaged career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists last season. He finished fourth in the NBA in scoring and sixth in MVP voting while carrying a heavier load during Jayson Tatum’s absence.
Paul George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Philadelphia. He also played only 78 games across his two seasons with the Sixers, making availability an obvious concern for a Boston Celtics team that still expects to contend.
Brad Stevens argued that George can still take over sections of games while also fitting around Boston’s other scorers. The Celtics were also attracted to the draft return, which includes an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a protected 2028 first-round selection.
That explains the logic. It does not erase the risk of swapping a 29-year-old coming off his best season for a 36-year-old with a lengthy injury record.
Philadelphia Adds a Proven Playoff Scorer
Philadelphia 76ers now pair Jaylen Brown with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, giving the Sixers another scorer who can create without relying on Embiid to control every possession.
Brown also arrives with far more recent playoff success than the franchise he is joining. He is a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and a Finals MVP, with 142 postseason appearances during his Boston career.
The fit still comes with the usual Philadelphia disclaimer: Joel Embiid must stay healthy. Brown raises the Sixers’ floor and reduces some of the pressure on Tyrese Maxey, but their championship chances remain tied to how often their center can play.
Sportsbooks Backed Philadelphia
Boston Celtics moved from +650 to +1400 to win the 2027 NBA championship, while Philadelphia 76ers shortened from +6600 to +2000. The Sixers also jumped from +2000 to +700 to win the Eastern Conference.
The market still listed Boston ahead of Philadelphia in the conference race, with the Boston Celtics at +450 and the Philadelphia 76ers at +700. That suggests bookmakers still trust Jayson Tatum, Joe Mazzulla and Boston’s broader roster more than Philadelphia’s health record.
For futures bettors, the best Sixers number may already be gone. Moving from +6600 to +2000 is a huge correction, and anyone entering now is paying a much steeper price for a roster that still depends on Joel Embiid’s knees.
Boston is more interesting at its longer odds, but only for bettors prepared to gamble on Paul George staying healthy and the Boston Celtics replacing Jaylen Brown’s scoring. Joe Mazzulla may have lost a player who made him better. The betting market believes he also lost the safer path to another title.
