When the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, Mike Gansey immediately wrote himself into franchise history. How did the Sixers' new president of basketball operations transform one of the NBA's worst contracts into the 2024 Finals MVP? Well, in a Celtics jersey, George is proving his salary is worth every dime.
Brown has already established himself as a critical piece in the 76ers' championship ambitions. The 30-year-old has quickly set any alleged ego aside and embraced Nick Nurse's star-studded roster. Brown has averaged 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, proving he is willing to accept any role that his head coach has trusted him with.
Under normal circumstances, league experts would be right to suggest that Boston handed its biggest Eastern Conference rival a championship-caliber weapon by sanctioning this trade. However, this is not a normal situation. George is still a superstar in his own right, and in the Celtics' distinct system, the 36-year-old is thriving.
George is carrying on where he left off in Philadelphia
To brand George a failure in Philadelphia would be harsh. A 25-game suspension and frustrating injury problems continually disrupted the nine-time All-Star from building momentum. When available, George made an extremely positive impact on both sides of the ball, particularly during last season's postseason run.
During the Sixers' 2025-26 playoff campaign, George averaged 16.4 points, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting an incredible 49.3 percent from deep. This string of efficient 3-point performances gave Boston's head coach Joe Mazzulla a clear vision for the veteran forward.
Mazzulla has created a strict blueprint in Boston. Play with aggression, stay physical on defense, and live and die by the 3-point shot. It's a formula that brought championship success in 2024, and now, with George's sharpshooting on the roster, the Celtics will be confident they can return to greatness.
George has returned to his pre-Philadelphia scoring levels for the Celtics, recording 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, draining a career-high 42.5 percent from three-point range. Yet, it has been his ability to let Jayson Tatum have the spotlight that has benefited Boston most.
Currently, both franchises got exactly what they wanted from this stunning trade. The 76ers acquired a devastating forward with championship experience, while the Celtics landed a version of George who fits their established system like a glove.
The two Eastern Conference giants will hope their end of the bargain doesn't prevent them from reaching the NBA Finals.
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