As NBA free agency dies down and the Summer League comes to an end, there’s less going on in the basketball world. Which means there’s going to be a lot more opinions and predictions. There have been countless blockbuster trades and signings this offseason, leaving people with plenty to talk about.
Undoubtedly, the biggest move of the offseason was Boston sending former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George and a couple of second-round picks. The majority of analysts and talking heads have already written the Celtics off, but is it a bit premature?
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Addressing Their Biggest Weakness
Jun 18, 2026; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson screams during the New York Knicks Championship Parade through the Canyon of Heroes. Mandatory Credit: Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images
People are acting like Boston moving on from Jaylen Brown is the end-all, be-all. Boston did downgrade at the shooting guard position, slotting an aging Paul George into his place, but they also improved in other areas.
Their most significant upgrade came at center. It’s no secret that Boston has been searching for a reliable, physical center. They have brought in several players, but none could meet their expectations. They finally signed Knicks center Mitchell Robinson this offseason in hopes that he can solve that issue.
Robinson is an improvement over Nikola Vučević, and only time will tell how big of an impact this move will make.
Paul George vs. Jaylen Brown
Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown is not a player you can easily replace, but how big of a downgrade is Paul George?
George is an above-average defender and a reliable scorer. He doesn’t measure up to Jaylen Brown, but in no way is he a bad basketball player. George averaged 17 points per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc.
George provides a similar playstyle to Jaylen Brown while being less ball-dominant and a bit worse in nearly every area.
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The Team Belongs to Tatum
Boston made this trade to make it clear that Jayson Tatum is their guy. They essentially handed the keys to the offense to him, displaying full trust in their young superstar.
They improved at center and removed a ball-dominant player. The Celtics were able to finish second in the East without Tatum and with a lackluster center. With Tatum and a better center, who’s to say this team can’t finish first?
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