76ers
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A new report suggests that if the Philadelphia 76ers struggle to gel and disappoint next season, Jaylen Brown will be the player moved to shake up the roster.
After the 76ers were embarrassed by the New York Knicks in the semifinals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the team was expected to try to improve the roster. However, with two expensive and oft-injured players on the roster — Joel Embiid and Paul George — most assumed they wouldn’t be able to do much. Well, those NBA experts were wrong.
Philly made, arguably, the biggest trade of the summer when they were able to convince the Boston Celtics to give them Brown for George and a few draft picks. That move then changed perceptions, and it is reportedly why LeBron James ended up signing with the 76ers on a very team-friendly deal in free agency.
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Jaylen Brown is the only sensible trade chip for the Philadelphia 76ers
On paper, the 76ers have an outstanding starting five. However, there are also big concerns. They will have three defensively challenged players: Embiid, James, and Tyrese Maxey. But more importantly, which of their stars are going to make huge sacrifices to their stats for the betterment of the team?
It was a topic Heavy’s Sean Deveney asked a rival East executive about, and they had an interesting fix if the 76ers don’t live up to expectations in the new season.
“One of the concerns I would have is I don’t know that, if this all does not work out, there is an easy solution. There is no one easy to trade on this roster… Maybe Brown would be the best choice. Good luck if you want to trade Embiid. LeBron, you can’t trade him. You can’t trade Maxey or [VJ] Edgecombe. They’re your future. Maybe Jaylen, then.”
– Eastern Conference executive
The idea of trading Brown months or a year after acquiring him seems absurd. But the executive makes a fair point. Embiid’s injury history and huge contract make him impossible to move without giving up valuable draft assets. James won’t approve a trade. And Maxey and Edgecombe are young, cost-effective building blocks.
While Brown has questions about his attitude, he would still fetch a good trade return if the 76ers realize the pieces of this star-studded puzzle don’t fit at all.