The Philadelphia 76ers pulling off a blockbuster trade to bring in Jaylen Brown from the Celtics has got to be one of the most shocking deals the league has seen in recent years. The fact that Boston willingly shipped their Finals MVP to their biggest rival is a colossal plot twist in and of itself, but it appears that the Timberwolves also made this exchange possible, basically handing Philly a hockey assist to land the All-NBA wing.
As revealed by The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski in a recent appearance on the Celtics Daily Podcast, Minnesota wanted to pair Anthony Edwards with Brown, but Boston's brain trust wanted both Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid in return. Apparently, the Timberwolves balked at the demand and deemed it to be too heavy a price to pay. Eventually, Minny pursued LaMelo Ball instead, while the Celtics sent Brown to the 76ers.
Timberwolves had a hand in 76ers pulling off Jaylen Brown trade
The Timberwolves brass was determined to retool their nucleus, bannered by Edwards for next season after coming up short in the postseason for three straight years already, despite respectable finishes. As such, it made a lot of sense for them to go star-hunting, and they did eventually get one in Ball, who will now form a very lethal and electric backcourt with Edwards.
Had they gone all-in on Brown even at the expense of losing not only their Sixth Man, but also their defensive anchor, the Celtics probably would have gladly sent the All-NBA wing to Minnesota. But thanks to the Wolves exercising prudence and valuing Gobert's stature as a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, the 76ers get to be the landing spot for the 2024 Finals MVP.
Boston had to settle for a much inferior return from Philly in Paul George and some draft capital. While the Celtics are not necessarily doomed at this juncture, they have undoubtedly taken a step back after the exit of Brown, who basically hard-carried them last season with Jayson Tatum sidelined for the most part.
Meanwhile, the 76ers added to their embarrassment of riches with Jaylen Brown in the fold. Now, Philadelphia is widely reckoned as one of the strongest contenders for the championship, and their current billing certainly would not have been possible without the Timberwolves flat-out rejecting Boston's lofty demands and pivoting to a different star to pair with their franchise player.
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