Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 5

Mystery Team Says Celtics Ignored Better Jaylen Brown Bid After 4-Pick 76ers Trade

Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 5

Mystery Team Says Celtics Ignored Better Jaylen Brown Bid After 4-Pick 76ers Trade

Q: Who was the mystery team Boston ignored before trading superstar Jaylen Brown?

The mystery team was the **Charlotte Hornets**. The original reporting described the club only as a “good team” that was “stunned” Boston finalized the Jaylen Brown deal with Philadelphia without letting it improve an intentionally low opening bid. Follow-up reporting identified that suitor as Charlotte. According to the additional reporting, the Hornets’ offer was built around **Miles Bridges, Naz Reid, and draft compensation**. Boston, however, was said to be seeking a much stronger package centered on **Brandon Miller plus multiple picks**, and Charlotte was unwilling to go that far. So while the initial Sports Illustrated report left the team unnamed, the searched material points to **Charlotte** as the franchise Boston did not circle back to before completing the Brown-for-Paul George trade with the 76ers.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 5

A mystery suitor said it was “stunned” Boston finalized Jaylen Brown’s trade to Philadelphia without giving it a chance to improve what it knew was a weak initial offer.
Chris Mannix reported the team was probing how low it could open because Boston was seen as eager to move Brown, with ESPN previously saying the Celtics were “very motivated” and “offering him everywhere.”
Boston ultimately sent the 29-year-old star to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks; one 2028 first could instead become a swap favoring the Celtics.
That package drew scrutiny because Brown was coming off career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, plus an All-NBA Second Team berth and a sixth-place MVP finish.
The move also sent Brown to the Eastern Conference rival that had just eliminated Boston, deepening fallout after Brown criticized the Celtics and said he was still processing how the trade unfolded.