Recent Jaylen Brown move has shown that anything is possible

Earlier in June, I made a joke about being from Massachusetts in correlation with my disdain for Ime Udoka, and I am undoubtedly going to bring this fact up again. Don’t worry, I know this page is for the Houston Rockets, so I will maintain that standard.

Jaylen Brown has been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers (I think I am going to be sick) for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks. There is a lot to unfold here, from breaking down the trade to pointing out how Houston could’ve matched or even topped this offer.

The trade itself

Wow, just wow, this is one of those trades that shows how much the NBA has changed when it comes to things like the 2nd Apron and contracts. We may never know the full extent of what was going on behind the scenes between Brown and the Boston Celtics, but clearly they weren’t on the same page.

Brown already has a large contract, but he was also extension-eligible on July 26th, something Boston definitely didn’t seem interested in. It was well covered that Brown never formally requested a trade, but this move feels very “something needs to happen now”.

How Houston could’ve gotten involved

Based on salaries, it felt like this would have been a hard trade to pull off, but I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by the 76ers' package. If Houston wanted something like this to work, it would probably have to involve the likes of Alperen Sengun, a player like Tari Eason in a potential sign-and-trade, and an array of picks.

Even if Houston did not include Sengun, it is hard to believe a package built around Tari Eason, Fred VanVleet’s expiring contract, and comparable draft capital would not have been more appealing than a deal centered on George, who is 36 years old and has not played at an All-Star level in multiple years.

This is a tricky thought; players of Brown’s caliber aren’t just available like he was, but while a move like this seems nice, it could do more damage than we think. Draft capital, despite the recent change in the draft lottery, is still valuable, but key picks, plus what could lead to a lack of having a starting center, does not save the roster.

The aftermath

Who would have ever thought that Brown would be traded for a guy like George? It is funny. I’m 25, married, and recently finished my master's, yet I still remember thinking George was one of the coolest players to watch when I was in middle school. Brown is still in his prime, while George feels like a player from a different generation.

Overall, this was a great trade for Philadelphia, a move that, if they can keep healthy, will keep them competitive in the East. As for Boston, I am lost. Houston may or may not have been as involved, but a package from them could have been much more interesting.

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