Perkins Says Celtics Handed 76ers NBA Finals Path in Jaylen Brown-for-George Trade
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 2
Perkins Says Celtics Handed 76ers NBA Finals Path in Jaylen Brown-for-George Trade
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 2
Summary
Kendrick Perkins called Boston's Jaylen Brown trade a "sad day" for the Celtics, saying the deal effectively handed Philadelphia a trip to the NBA Finals next season.
The swap sent Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two pick swaps, but Perkins argued Boston failed to get back a player still performing at a top-15 or top-20 level.
George averaged 16.7 points on 43.7% shooting in Philadelphia and played only 78 games over the last two seasons, with injuries and a 25-game anti-drug-policy suspension cutting into his availability.
Philadelphia's outlook improved immediately in betting markets, with one Las Vegas sportsbook moving the 76ers to the fifth-best 2027 title odds and third-best in the East.
If Perkins' forecast holds, it would mark a major breakthrough for a franchise that last reached the NBA Finals in 2001 and last won the championship in 1983.