The Jaylen Brown trade to the Philadelphia 76ers is one of the biggest moves in the past few years in the NBA.
While it was known that the Boston Celtics were looking to trade Brown, few people thought he would leave for the 76ers and, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Philadelphia themselves didn't believe they had a shot at landing the All-NBA guard.
"The Sixers knew they weren't the first – or even the second or third team – on Boston's radar, but they kept calling," Jones revealed.
"When Boston lost the race for Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, the dynamics changed for Philadelphia, according to league sources. Brown's name had surfaced publicly in those trade talks, and there was a point of no return."
Even with the Celtics missing out on Giannis Antetokounmpo, most people didn't assume Brown would go to the 76ers, even Philadelphia themselves.
"Even then, Philadelphia viewed itself as a long shot, according to league sources," Jones wrote.
"Conventional wisdom suggested Boston would rather trade him to a Western Conference team than trade an All-NBA-caliber player to a division rival."
Philadelphia constructed a stacked roster for next season
LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey
Credit Imagn Images - Scanpix
The Philadelphia 76ers constructed the most talented five-man lineup in the NBA this offseason, acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics and signing LeBron James as a free agent to join the team's star-studded core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
However, despite the staggering talent and potential they present, questions are swirling as to how every star player in Philly will be committed enough to take a step back.
With an NBA championship as their ultimate goal, it will now be up to Maxey and his fellow 76ers stars to embrace the sacrifices and adjustments necessary to give themselves a stronger chance to win it all.