Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 5

76ers Land Jaylen Brown for Paul George and 4 Picks as Draymond Green Calls It a Win

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 5

76ers Land Jaylen Brown for Paul George and 4 Picks as Draymond Green Calls It a Win

Q: Is the trio of Embiid, Maxey, and Brown enough for the 76ers to finally dethrone the dominant New York Knicks?

Yes — it is enough to make Philadelphia a real threat to New York, but not enough to call the 76ers the favorite yet. Jaylen Brown is a major upgrade over what Philadelphia got from Paul George. Brown is coming off an All-NBA season at 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, and he has been far more durable than George. That matters for a Sixers team that needed another reliable shot creator next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Brown also gives Nick Nurse a stronger two-way wing against elite playoff opponents. On paper, the Embiid-Maxey-Brown trio is the best top-end talent Philadelphia has had in years. Maxey has already shown he can carry major offensive responsibility, and Brown should reduce that burden while giving the Sixers another player who can create late in games. If Embiid is healthy, that trio is good enough to win the East. The problem is that New York is not just star-heavy; it is deeper, more cohesive and already proven. The Knicks are the defending champions, were historically dominant in the 2026 playoffs, and have matchup advantages with Jalen Brunson’s shot creation, OG Anunoby’s defense, Karl-Anthony Towns’ versatility and strong frontcourt depth. Philadelphia also still has the biggest variable in the series: Embiid’s health over a full playoff run. So the trade clearly narrows the gap. It probably moves the Sixers into the Knicks’ tier, but until Philadelphia proves its chemistry, depth and Embiid’s durability, New York remains the safer pick.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 5

Philadelphia sent Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-rounders to Boston for Jaylen Brown, a 2024 Finals MVP coming off a season as Boston’s top option with Jayson Tatum sidelined.
Draymond Green said on his podcast that the 76ers “made out like bandits,” arguing two likely non-top-five first-rounders would not match Brown’s caliber and calling the swap uneven.
Brown now joins Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in a new Philadelphia core that also includes rising prospect VJ Edgecombe and newcomer Dean Wade.
The move strengthens the 76ers’ case as a leading Eastern Conference challenger to the Knicks and underscores an aggressive offseason under new basketball operations chief Mike Gansey.