The Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that reshaped both franchises. Paul George and four draft picks came back to Boston. The move ended Brown’s nine-year run with the organization and sent the 2024 Finals MVP to a division rival.
On Thursday, Philadelphia welcomed Brown at a press event where he held up his No. 7 Sixers jersey for the first time in an official setting. He spoke about what lies ahead.
But it was what the man who orchestrated the deal said about the process that carried the most weight from a Celtics perspective.
Gansey Reveals How the Trade Came Together
76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who assumed control of the front office earlier this summer, provided the most detailed look yet at how the Brown deal materialized. He said conversations between the two organizations were ongoing and that both sides remained persistent throughout the process.
“It was a process of talking with them, going back-and-forth,” Gansey said. “We just kept at it. Boston kept calling. We kept calling and trying to figure something out. Credit Brad. We really kept this thing quiet.”
Gansey gave credit to what the Celtics received in return.
“They got Paul. Paul can still really play,” Gansey said. “They got some picks that can be very valuable.”
Few around the league had connected Philadelphia to Brown before the trade broke. Gansey pointed to the discipline on both sides for keeping the discussions from leaking.
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on August 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Brown Addresses His New Chapter
Brown acknowledged the weight of the transition but made his priorities clear.
“Winning is the agenda,” Brown said. “I’m excited to just be myself. I’m coming every single day with my best foot forward.”
He will share the floor with Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe in what projects as one of the most talented starting groups in the league. The pressure in Philadelphia will be immense. Brown has thrived under that kind of scrutiny before.
Getty(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Celtics
Gansey’s account confirmed what the timeline suggested. Both sides kept calling. Both sides kept it quiet. And when the terms were right, the deal was done.
The Celtics now have George, draft capital, and financial flexibility. Brown is in Philadelphia with something to prove. The rivalry just added another layer.
When these two teams meet next, Gansey’s words from Thursday will be the backdrop for everything that follows.
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