The Spurs are in the planning phase of their new arena. While between seasons, Spurs Sports & Entertainment are hosting a series of community meetings to share updates and ger feedback.
Per a Spurs press release:
“Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) will host 10 Community Conversations and Open House beginning the week of July 13 to gather public input on the proposed downtown arena district and future home of the San Antonio Spurs. The family-friendly meetings are open to everyone across San Antonio. Locations were selected across the city to make it easier for people to participate near where they live, work or spend time.”
Residents will receive an update, have an opportunity to ask questions and air concerns regarding the new arena and surrounding area.
Dates and Locations Mon., July 13 – Pope Francis Center 263 Felisa Tue., July 14 – Alamo Community College: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie Boardroom 2222 N. Alamo St. Wed, July 15 – St. Phillip’s College TSC Conference Room 216 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. Thur., July 16 – St Vincent de Paul 4222 SW Loop 410 Thur., July 16 – San Antonio Shrine Auditorium 901 N Loop 1604 W Mon., July 20 – San Antonio Food Bank 5200 Historic Old Hwy 90 Mon., July 20 – San Antonio Board of Realtors 9110 IH-10 W Tue., July 21 – St. Paul’s Community Center 1201 Donaldson Ave Wed., July 22 – Our Lady of the Lake University 411 S.W. 24th Street – Library Thur., July 23 – Morgan’s Wonderland 5223 David Edwards
Each meeting will convene at 6:30 p.m. with displays and an opportunity to meet the project team. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a brief presentation followed by small-group discussions, interactive activities, and a share of ideas.
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Gabe Vincent #4 of the Atlanta Hawks looks to pass the ball as Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Good morning folks. It’s Thursday, July 2 and the third day of free agency. Jamir Watkins is back on a two-way deal.
And Gabe Vincent is rumored to be one of the Wizards’ targets.
The Washington Wizards are a potential landing spot for Gabe Vincent, per @JakeLFischer
The Boston Celtics dealt Jaylen Brown, a 10-year veteran and former Finals MVP, to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 36-year-old Paul George and draft picks. The move sent shockwaves across the NBA, with players, analysts and fans scratching their heads at the Celtics’ thought-process.
It wasn’t the first time in recent memory that an NBA trade has stunned social media and shaken up the NBA. With that in mind, here’s a look back at five of the most shocking trades in league history:
5. Chris Paul to the Los Angeles… Clippers?
The deal:Los Angeles Clippers acquire Chris Paul; New Orleans Hornets Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and 2012 first-round pick. The bigger deal, though, was the one that didn’t happen. Paul seemed poised to join the crosstown Lakers before the league, which owned the Hornets at the time, vetoed the trade that would’ve paired him with Kobe Bryant.
The fallout: Paul’s run with the Clippers was the most successful in franchise history. He helped turned the club in a perennial contender out West, but they often fell short in the postseason (topping out in the second round). Paul and Blake Griffin formed an electric duo for six seasons before the point guard was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2017. The Hornets missed the playoffs for three straight seasons but did draft Anthony Davis.
4. Celtics send stars to Nets for draft picks
The deal: Brooklyn Nets acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry; Boston Celtics acquire Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, three first-round draft picks and a first-round pick swap.
The fallout: At the time, the Celtics’ decision seemed foolish. None of the players were major contributors for their suddenly rebuilding team, and the Nets seemed too good for the picks to end up being valuable. Well, the veteran club slowly deteriorated and bottomed out, leaving the Celtics with the picks that eventually became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. This was the trade that rebooted Boston and set Brooklyn back for years.
3. Thunder deal James Harden to Rockets
The deal: Houston Rockets acquire James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward; Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick.
The fallout: Fresh off an NBA Finals loss with three stars under 25, the Thunder looked like the NBA’s next dynasty. But they wouldn’t pay the full rookie max extension for Harden, so they sent him to the Rockets before he could hit restricted free agency in a stunning deal days before the season started. The Thunder never made it back to the Finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Rockets also never reached the big stage, but Harden transformed from a sixth man to a league MVP as Houston became a contender.
2. Jaylen Brown to Philly, Paul George to Boston
The deal: Philadelphia 76ers acquire Jaylen Brown; Boston Celtics acquire Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
The fallout: We still don’t know how this deal will play out on the court, but the buzz is that this deal heavily favors the Sixers. Time will tell if the Celtics sold Brown at the right time, or if the draft picks end up panning out like they did in the 2013 Nets trade. For now, the Sixers appear to be an East favorite and the Celtics are being pushed down the pecking order.
1. Lakers get Luka Doncic from Mavericks
The deal: Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris; Dallas Mavericks acquire Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick; Utah Jazz receive Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.
The fallout: Like the Celtics-Sixers trade, we’re still waiting for the full picture to be painted from this trade. Unlike Brown, Doncic was never even discussed as a trade target when he was dealt late on a February night before the trade deadline. Then, when you look at the return package, it made this even more stunning. The Mavericks eventually got the first pick with some lottery luck, and the Lakers haven’t gone past the second round in Doncic’s first two seasons. But the Mavs have already traded away Davis and are rebuilding around Cooper Flagg, with GM Nico Harrison fired less than a year after the trade.
The Boston Celtics dealt Jaylen Brown, a 10-year veteran and former Finals MVP, to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 36-year-old Paul George and draft picks. The move sent shockwaves across the NBA, with players, analysts and fans scratching their heads at the Celtics’ thought-process.
It wasn’t the first time in recent memory that an NBA trade has stunned social media and shaken up the NBA. With that in mind, here’s a look back at five of the most shocking trades in league history:
5. Chris Paul to the Los Angeles… Clippers?
The deal:Los Angeles Clippers acquire Chris Paul; New Orleans Hornets Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and 2012 first-round pick. The bigger deal, though, was the one that didn’t happen. Paul seemed poised to join the crosstown Lakers before the league, which owned the Hornets at the time, vetoed the trade that would’ve paired him with Kobe Bryant.
The fallout: Paul’s run with the Clippers was the most successful in franchise history. He helped turned the club in a perennial contender out West, but they often fell short in the postseason (topping out in the second round). Paul and Blake Griffin formed an electric duo for six seasons before the point guard was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2017. The Hornets missed the playoffs for three straight seasons but did draft Anthony Davis.
4. Celtics send stars to Nets for draft picks
The deal: Brooklyn Nets acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry; Boston Celtics acquire Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, three first-round draft picks and a first-round pick swap.
The fallout: At the time, the Celtics’ decision seemed foolish. None of the players were major contributors for their suddenly rebuilding team, and the Nets seemed too good for the picks to end up being valuable. Well, the veteran club slowly deteriorated and bottomed out, leaving the Celtics with the picks that eventually became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. This was the trade that rebooted Boston and set Brooklyn back for years.
3. Thunder deal James Harden to Rockets
The deal: Houston Rockets acquire James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward; Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick.
The fallout: Fresh off an NBA Finals loss with three stars under 25, the Thunder looked like the NBA’s next dynasty. But they wouldn’t pay the full rookie max extension for Harden, so they sent him to the Rockets before he could hit restricted free agency in a stunning deal days before the season started. The Thunder never made it back to the Finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Rockets also never reached the big stage, but Harden transformed from a sixth man to a league MVP as Houston became a contender.
2. Jaylen Brown to Philly, Paul George to Boston
The deal: Philadelphia 76ers acquire Jaylen Brown; Boston Celtics acquire Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
The fallout: We still don’t know how this deal will play out on the court, but the buzz is that this deal heavily favors the Sixers. Time will tell if the Celtics sold Brown at the right time, or if the draft picks end up panning out like they did in the 2013 Nets trade. For now, the Sixers appear to be an East favorite and the Celtics are being pushed down the pecking order.
1. Lakers get Luka Doncic from Mavericks
The deal: Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris; Dallas Mavericks acquire Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick; Utah Jazz receive Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.
The fallout: Like the Celtics-Sixers trade, we’re still waiting for the full picture to be painted from this trade. Unlike Brown, Doncic was never even discussed as a trade target when he was dealt late on a February night before the trade deadline. Then, when you look at the return package, it made this even more stunning. The Mavericks eventually got the first pick with some lottery luck, and the Lakers haven’t gone past the second round in Doncic’s first two seasons. But the Mavs have already traded away Davis and are rebuilding around Cooper Flagg, with GM Nico Harrison fired less than a year after the trade.
No Jayson Tatum for the night, a DNP for Nikola Vucevic, and Jaylen Brown is on the block with a posted-up Joel Embiid.
And this wasn’t some small ball hard trap. Jaylen Brown is on an island with a 280-pound former MVP. With nine minutes left in the third quarter, a brief dig from Baylor Scheierman is slight help, but Embiid is unbothered. Easy bucket.
Three minutes later, it’s truly an island. Near the high post, Brown slaps his hands together hard, and swipes furiously as Embiid jab steps and drives into another hook shot. Two more points.
They met inside two more times in the fourth quarter. Of course Philly wants that matchup every time. It hasn’t failed. The first time, Brown does everything possible to prevent the entry pass, but Embiid successfully gets the inside edge, and as he’s about to go up for another easy bucket, in comes Brown, swatting the ball off the backboard into the hands of Derrick White.
It happens again in clutch time in a 1-point game. Embiid is backing down Brown on the low block, but the smaller Brown is standing his ground. Embiid can’t reach the restricted area and settles for a hook shot that barely reaches the front rim (Neemias Queta actually did help late this time, but it’s Brown’s stop).
We didn’t know it then, but it’s the last game of Brown’s 10-year Celtics run, and the bridge that leads to him joining one of Boston’s most historic rivals, a team that has played a part in Brown’s own playoff legacy as a Celtic.
We have now seen the full picture of Jaylen Brown’s Celtics career. Brown went to war for Boston, just like he said he promised on his draft night. Even if it often meant failure on the biggest stages, even if it meant the brunt of the blame alongside Jayson Tatum as the duo that couldn’t work together. Even if he’s left completely alone on a ginormous elite scorer in a Game 7. Jaylen Brown is never afraid of the moment, and all the consequences that come with it.
On the night confetti rained down on the Garden as the Celtics captured their first NBA title since 2008, Brad Stevens sounded like a man vindicated. The duo he coached, the duo he stuck with through years of trade rumors and breakup headlines, had finally won an NBA title.
“The criticism is stupid,” he said. “[Tatum & Brown] achieved more than most 25, 26-year-olds ever had. The scrutiny was because they were playing in May & June…I’d rather be in the mix and have my guts ripped out, than suck. And those two have been really good for a long time.”
It’s hard to fathom that two years later, after offseasons enduring trade ideas floated toward the biggest names in the league (including Paul George himself), Brad Stevens settled for a trade offer that, from any outside perspective, is an underwhelming return for an All-Star fresh off a career scoring season.
It finally happened, and it happened for that?
Paul George, who admittedly had a good season and an even better postseason, attached to a pair of first round picks and two seconds hardly seems like the proper value from trade talks that ESPN’s Shams Charania reported were with “8-10 teams.”
It finally happened, and it happened for that?
It’s pretty unbelievable that the process of trade discussions surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo ultimately ended here, and with the Philadelphia 76ers of all teams. There is not a soul on this Earth that predicted that even weeks ago, and if they did, they either have insider information, or are psychic.
It’s impossible to consider this the very end of the line for the Celtics’ offseason. After all, it’s only been two days of free agency, and it’s hard to imagine this was a one-step plan, but really consider what’s out there, and what conceivably could be obtained by re-routing Paul George, or moving Derrick White and/or Sam Hauser.
George and four picks pulled an All-NBA talent, sure, but at 36 years old with an eyesore of a contract featuring a player option, what are the moves that really put the Celtics in a significantly better position to contend in the immediate future than if they just held onto Brown and attempted to figure it out?
Maybe this ends with the popular Portland or New Orleans packages we’ve seen rumored all along, now with additional draft capital to sweeten any deal. Maybe it’s that long-rumored trade for Kevin Durant that was once offered in 2023. Maybe it’s the first domino to acquire Anthony Davis and LeBron James in what would be one of the most wildly incomprehensible jersey swaps you’ve ever seen. What Brad Stevens does next, I have no idea.
Whatever it is, was it really worth it while Jaylen Brown gets slotted into a starting lineup that features Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid, one the Celtics will have to face multiple times, and possibly in a series?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers is introduced before the game against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s go over the numbers: 17.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on 49% from the field and 55% (!) from three. Those are the stats that Paul George averaged in the Celtics-76ers first round series this past season. Now, those percentages won’t hold up over a regular season and his age and injury concerns are real, but the Celtics are getting a good player in Paul George.
He isn’t better than Jaylen Brown and the rest of the return does feel like it is lacking. However, when he is on the floor, George remains a good player.
An elite three-point shooter, George shot 39% from three in the regular season last year and 49% in the playoffs. Sure, PG is overpaid (he has a year and a player option at $110.7 million left on his current deal) but he remains very high level 3 and D wing at this point in his career, who can still put the ball on the floor and get to his spots.
His athleticism isn’t what it once was, but his silky-smooth scoring ability remains, as does his defensive prowess.
On the ball, he gave both Brown and Jayson Tatum a ton of problems in their playoff series and off of it, he doesn’t have the silly mistakes that Jaylen was susceptible to.
George is also an analytics darling, of which Brown is not.
— jaylen brown is off my team (@EuroHarden) July 1, 2026
(I feel it is important to note here that I am not implying that George is a better player than Brown by giving you these numbers, just that George is good.)
We do have to talk about the games played issue that has plagued George over the past few seasons. Since his trade to the Clippers in 2019, over the past seven seasons, five with the Clippers and two with the Sixers, George has played in 48, 54, 31, 56, 74, 41 and 37 games. That is 341 of 554 potential games, 62%.
That certainly is not ideal and the Celtics are hoping George will remake his 2023-24 campaign when he played in 74 games but that seems like a stretch.
I think George’s fit with Jayson Tatum is also smoother than Brown’s was. George is a better off-ball player than Brown is with his three point shot being a big part of that. According to Second Spectrum, George shot 42% on catch-and-shoot threes a season ago, while shooting 34% on pull up threes last season (in the playoffs he shot 68% on pull up threes).
George is also someone who is still good at attacking closeouts. He doesn’t get to the rim at all, ranking in the 15th percentile of wings in rim rate, but he does get to the mid-range well to knock down some of those. You’d like to see some of those mid-range shots become threes, however.
No, Paul George is not a better player than Jaylen Brown is, but that doesn’t mean the Celtics are getting a bad player in this deal. If he is on the floor, and that is a big if, Paul George is going to help the Celtics win games next season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 30: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during a game at State Farm Arena on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the offseason began, it felt inevitable that Jaylen Brown would spend the summer answering questions about his future, whether it happened in Boston, Milwaukee, or elsewhere.
What nobody expected, however, was that those questions would end with Brown wearing a Philadelphia 76ers jersey.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics traded Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/xNcNlIV2mh
Now, being entirely honest, the writing was very much on the wall. Just a few days after trying to include Brown in a Giannis Antetokounmpo package, after endless rumors and commentary on the Celtics’ plans to get rid of Brown, and even after Brown himself never said he wanted out of Boston, we all knew where this was going.
Again, waht no freaking body could see coming was a trade that sent the 2024 Finals MVP to the team that knocked it out of the playoffs last May.
If Brown had been traded for Giannis, most people would’ve understood it, and nobody would have batted much of an eye. Instead, Boston pivoted to deal after deal, asked teams for up to four or five first-round picks, and ultimately found no real market for a seemingly overvalued player that ended up near-dumped by the C’s.
For context, Brown averaged career highs in 2026 with 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while leading the Celtics to 56 wins, even with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season recovering from his Achilles injury. He finished sixth in MVP voting and made Second Team All-NBA.
In exchange for that Brown, all the Sixers sent the other way was a package centered around a 35-year-old Paul George (who missed ample time last season with a suspension and is more injured than not) and four future draft picks (definitely not the ones the Celtics wanted).
There’s been nonsensical trades this season, but this one puts the cherry on top of the poop sundae Boston has been carefully preparing. Shout-out, Philly, you got a good one here.
George is still a very good player when he’s available, but availability has become an inevitable part of the PG8 equation. He played just 37 games last season, only more than 56 once since he left OKC in 2019, and he’ll turn 36 before next year’s playoffs. Will the draft picks help Boston? Probably, but this is most definitely not another KG-Nets-like trade for the C’s.
For the Sixers, not only do they get rid of Paul George and replace them with a younger, ten-times better player, but Brown also gives them another star capable of carrying the offense when Joel Embiid isn’t on the floor, which they know will happen at some point during both the regular season and the playoffs.
Brown also joins VJ Edgecome and Tyrese Maxey, none of whom will need to create that much by themselves anymore, let alone after Brown proved he can be a 1A leader after becoming Boston’s primary option last year. The former Leprechaun has also played at least 63 games in each of the last five seasons, a bill of health Philadelphia isn’t accustomed to seeing around those places.
As for the Knicks, this trade feels a little like a wash. I wouldn’t call it a win, but with a little bit of time to let it marinate, I might end up leaning that way.
For one, Boston signed Mitchell Robinson from the Knicks on Wednesday, and the lineup was looking complete with a healthy Tatum ready to go. Now, the PG-Celtics are definitely worse than they were 12 hours ago. Not only that, but the Celtics have replaced a player smacked right in the middle of his prime with one nearing the end of his.
The Sixers, on the other hand, are definitely much better. But there’s always a but, and we all know what the but is here. Maxey is a budding star. VJ is another one. Embiid was one. Brown is a superstar. Have you seen all Sixers play together for more than two games in a row? I bet you’ve not. Let’s see how the joints hold up heading into April and go from there.
I was going to write a bit about the impact of the trade in the broader Eastern Conference picture, but I’m doing that in a separate post because this one is running too long.
Let me finish with this. The Knicks are 7-3 against the Celtics in the last two seasons. They are 14-2 against Philly. I just don’t see those records flipping any time soon.
When we woke up on July 1, all the talk — including from league sources speaking to NBC Sports — was about how there was no market for a Jaylen Brown trade. The question was whether Brad Stevens and the Boston front office would be forced to tell Brown there was no trade and that they needed to work things out, or whether the relationship was too fractured. Well, we got that answer.
Let's pick the winners and losers from this trade, but first a reminder of who was involved.
Philadelphia receives: Jaylen Brown Boston receives: Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031), two second-round picks (2028, 2030)
Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia was already a win-now team (Joel Embiid is already 32, the clock is ticking), and it just landed an All-NBA player in his prime, someone who just finished sixth in MVP voting last season. And as a bonus, they got off a contract considered one of the worst in the league in Paul George.
Philadelphia got the best player in this trade, and now look at their starting five: PG: Tyrese Maxey SG: VG Edgecombe SF: Jaylen Brown PF: Dean Wade C: Joel Embiid
There is a price for Philadelphia here, and that starts with Brown being owed more than Paul George, a little over $180 million across the next three seasons — and he's eligible for a two-year extension worth over $140 million. Then there is giving up the draft picks, there is real value in two first-round picks.
But that's the cost to turn a team into a contender, the 76ers would gladly pay it. And if Embiid is healthy, this team can compete with the Knicks (and maybe Detroit or Indiana or anyone else) to win the East.
That's the definition of a win.
Loser: Boston Celtics
The Celtics flat out got worse with this trade.
This was a team that won the title a couple of years ago and entered this year's playoffs as the betting favorite. This trade made them actively worse while Jayson Tatum is in his prime. They are not as bad as some pundits want it to sound — they still have Derrick White, Tatum, George (if he's healthy), Payton Pritchard and more. This is still a top-six team in the East. But they got worse and are not contenders as we stand here.
I'm not in the room and it's hard to get my head around what Brad Stevens and company were thinking. According to the reporting from people close to the Celtics, Brown did not ask for a trade. Stevens said multiple times that he and Brown had a good relationship. Yet this relationship was somehow so broken that Stevens felt forced to make a below-market offer in what feels like a panicked, rushed trade.
It's not all bad. Boston got two very valuable picks, and George is a solid role player at this point in his career who can help the Celtics, but I don't get giving up an All-NBA player for this package. It's not enough. And that the Celtics let it get to the point that they felt they had to make this trade is an indictment of them.
Winner: Baylor Scheierman
Maybe we should throw Hugo Gonzalez into this mix as well, but the Celtics' young backup wings had earned more run based on their play last season. Now, they are about to be thrust into a much bigger role and get a real opportunity. They earned the chance, we'll see what they do with it.
Winner: Jaylen Brown
I don't know that Jaylen Brown wanted out of Boston. What I do know is he said this past season — with the ball in his hands as the primary shot creator, the guy on the top of opponents' scouting reports — was his favorite in the NBA. Then he should love this next season. It's not that Philadelphia doesn't have other shot creators and guys who need touches — Maxey, Embiid — but Brown is going to get the chance to be the headliner of a contender. You don't trade for Brown to play a role, you trade for him to take charge, and that's what the 76ers will ask him to do.
Loser: Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum is in his prime and wants to win — and his team just took a step backward. I don't pretend to know how tight Tatum and Brown are, or what Tatum says about Brown away from the cameras, but he cannot be happy about his team trading away a Finals MVP and turning a division rival into a contender. More is going to fall on Tatum's shoulders, and while that may be good for his personal stats, it's not going to be good for the team. Or helping them win another ring.
Winner: 76ers fans
Do I even need to explain this one? Philadelphia fans have every reason to be hyped up heading into next season because their team just made the leap to contender status. That's not a ring, but there is a genuine hope for one now and that's all a fan can ask for.
The Boston Celtics dealt Jaylen Brown, a 10-year veteran and former Finals MVP, to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 36-year-old Paul George and draft picks. The move sent shockwaves across the NBA, with players, analysts and fans scratching their heads at the Celtics’ thought-process.
It wasn’t the first time in recent memory that an NBA trade has stunned social media and shaken up the NBA. With that in mind, here’s a look back at five of the most shocking trades in league history:
5. Chris Paul to the Los Angeles… Clippers?
The deal:Los Angeles Clippers acquire Chris Paul; New Orleans Hornets Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and 2012 first-round pick. The bigger deal, though, was the one that didn’t happen. Paul seemed poised to join the crosstown Lakers before the league, which owned the Hornets at the time, vetoed the trade that would’ve paired him with Kobe Bryant.
The fallout: Paul’s run with the Clippers was the most successful in franchise history. He helped turned the club in a perennial contender out West, but they often fell short in the postseason (topping out in the second round). Paul and Blake Griffin formed an electric duo for six seasons before the point guard was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2017. The Hornets missed the playoffs for three straight seasons but did draft Anthony Davis.
4. Celtics send stars to Nets for draft picks
The deal: Brooklyn Nets acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry; Boston Celtics acquire Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, three first-round draft picks and a first-round pick swap.
The fallout: At the time, the Celtics’ decision seemed foolish. None of the players were major contributors for their suddenly rebuilding team, and the Nets seemed too good for the picks to end up being valuable. Well, the veteran club slowly deteriorated and bottomed out, leaving the Celtics with the picks that eventually became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. This was the trade that rebooted Boston and set Brooklyn back for years.
3. Thunder deal James Harden to Rockets
The deal: Houston Rockets acquire James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward; Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick.
The fallout: Fresh off an NBA Finals loss with three stars under 25, the Thunder looked like the NBA’s next dynasty. But they wouldn’t pay the full rookie max extension for Harden, so they sent him to the Rockets before he could hit restricted free agency in a stunning deal days before the season started. The Thunder never made it back to the Finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Rockets also never reached the big stage, but Harden transformed from a sixth man to a league MVP as Houston became a contender.
2. Jaylen Brown to Philly, Paul George to Boston
The deal: Philadelphia 76ers acquire Jaylen Brown; Boston Celtics acquire Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
The fallout: We still don’t know how this deal will play out on the court, but the buzz is that this deal heavily favors the Sixers. Time will tell if the Celtics sold Brown at the right time, or if the draft picks end up panning out like they did in the 2013 Nets trade. For now, the Sixers appear to be an East favorite and the Celtics are being pushed down the pecking order.
1. Lakers get Luka Doncic from Mavericks
The deal: Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris; Dallas Mavericks acquire Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick; Utah Jazz receive Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.
The fallout: Like the Celtics-Sixers trade, we’re still waiting for the full picture to be painted from this trade. Unlike Brown, Doncic was never even discussed as a trade target when he was dealt late on a February night before the trade deadline. Then, when you look at the return package, it made this even more stunning. The Mavericks eventually got the first pick with some lottery luck, and the Lakers haven’t gone past the second round in Doncic’s first two seasons. But the Mavs have already traded away Davis and are rebuilding around Cooper Flagg, with GM Nico Harrison fired less than a year after the trade.
Adou Thiero of the Lakers will be a part of the summer league roster. (Karen Warren / Associated Press)
While veterans jockey for new contracts during free agency, young players are getting their tryout opportunities with NBA summer league games beginning this week.
First-round draft pick Cameron Carr and second-year forward Adou Thiero highlight the Lakers summer league roster that was announced Wednesday. The 16-man team will be coached by Lakers assistant coach Ty Abbott and begin summer league play Friday against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
The Lakers also face the Miami Heat (July 5, 1:30 p.m.) and San Antonio Spurs (July 6, 4:30 p.m.) in the California Classic before playing in the Las Vegas summer league from July 9-19. The Lakers play Oklahoma City (July 10), Dallas (July 11), the Clippers (July 14) and Chicago (July 16) in Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.
The Lakers traded up in the draft to get Carr, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Baylor, with the 24th overall pick. He will make his unofficial NBA debut, along with former Indiana State and Saint Louis star Robbie Avila. The 6-10 center became a bespectacled college basketball cult hero known affectionately as “Cream Abdul Jabbar” while leading Indiana State to the NIT championship game in 2024. He transferred to Saint Louis, where he was named Atlantic-10 player of the year as a senior when the Billikens won a school-record 29 wins.
Although he is entering his second season with the Lakers, Thiero will be playing his first summer league games. Persistent knee injuries hampered his rookie season. The athletic 6-7 forward averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 25 appearances last season. He said after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs that he wanted to improve on his three-point shooting during his second year. He attempted only five three-pointers during his rookie season, regular season and playoffs, making one.
Lakers summer league roster
Robbie Avila, C, 6-10, 240 Cameron Carr, G, 6-5, 190 Jon Elmore, G, 6-3, 190 Luke Goode, F, 6-7, 210 William Hickey, G, 6-4, 203 Arthur Kaluma, F, 6-7, 225 William Kyle III, C, 6-9, 230 Chris Mañon, G, 6-4, 212 Robert McCray V, G, 6-4, 188 AK Okereke, F, 6-7, 245 Chase Ross, G, 6-5, 210 Zhaire Smith, G, 6-4, 205 Peter Suder, G, 6-5, 215 Adou Thiero, F, 6-7, 234 Anton Watson, F, 6-8, 225 Jacari White, G, 6-3, 180
Win the Summer League, build a backcourt connection with rookie Mikel Brown Jr. and ride that into the regular season.
“The first thing, the goal of the whole team is win Summer League,” Dëmin said. “My goal is to benefit that as much as I can and bring the biggest impact I can.
“And building a connection with the whole team, especially the rookies. With Mikel to be on the court as much as we can together and work this whole thing through before we actually start playing in the season.”
Last season, the Nets made Dëmin their first lottery pick in 15 years, then drafted another guard with the sixth pick last month.
But their skill sets not only aren’t redundant, they are actually complementary.
“They can obviously play together,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “Egor provides gravity and elite shooting, obviously ballhandling too. And Mikel, more of a primary ballhandler, very good athlete, scorer, too. So we’re gonna obviously see it in Summer League, but I don’t see any problems with them playing together.”
There had better not be. The Nets have largely staked their rebuild on the pair not only being able to survive but thrive playing together.
Egor Dëmin, celebrating during a game last season, says he’s looking to build a connection with Mikel Brown, Jr., the Nets’ 2026 top pick. Heather Khalifa for New York Post
Dëmin is better suited off the ball, and his shooting should accentuate Brown’s athleticism and downhill juice. With Dëmin recovered from a plantar fascia injury, the pairing will get their first look together in the California Summer League or ensuing Las Vegas Summer League.
“I love [the fit],” Dëmin said. “[His skills] are going to benefit my game. It’s going to be important to be dialed in with my shooting, and having a guy like this by my side who’s going to get all the defense on him, get to the paint, this is where we can benefit from each other. He shoots the lights out, so for me bringing the ball up sometimes — playing something for him or looking for opportunities in transition — that’s something we could really build on. We could be a special combo.”
Nets top draft pick Mikel Brown speaks to the media during an NBA Draft press conference at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center on June 29, 2026. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
For his part, Dëmin swatted away questions about the plantar fascia injury that ended his rookie campaign, saying he’s fine. He’s added 13 to 15 pounds from last year, strength that could help him get downhill.
“We’re about to find out. But being on balance, touching the paint and playing off two feet, you need that strength. He’s done an unbelievable job working in the weight room,” Fernández said. “He looks more like a grown-up, and he’s going to do things way better than he did last year.”
“A hundred percent,” Dëmin agreed. “That was one of the main focus of on-court work we’ve done this summer, is to use what I learned in the lifting room, make sure I use it and get these habits of being more aggressive looking for the gaps and going to the paint, trying to get on the rim more. … That was the main focus, to get used to the contact and get into the paint.”
Kessler is White, as are the Lakers' backcourt duo, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The lineup triggered jokes of "Snowtime," a reference to "Showtime" when the fast-paced Lakers were led by Black stars such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar.
But the Lakers' new projected starting lineup also fueled strong opinions, such as the one shared by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, regarding the team's makeup in a league that is more than 70% Black.
"The Los Angeles Lakers think they going with a bunch of White dudes," he said on the Stephen A. Smith Show Wednesday, July 1. "Your three top players are White dudes? Really? This ain't golf. This ain't baseball. Hell, it ain't even soccer. What y'all think this is? Basketball. …
"You ain't going anywhere being led by three White dudes in today's generation of basketball."
3 WHITE DUDES?! The Lakers Really Think THIS Can Win a Championship?
Kenyon Martin, a former No. 1 NBA draft pick who played in the league from 2000 to 2015, also chimed in on how the Lakers will fare with three White players in the starting lineup.
"Y'all lose in the first round (of the playoffs) either way it goes," Martin said on the Gilbert Arenas sport talk show, Gil’s Arena. "You play four White boys, you ain't gonna beat nobody … I want to know what team has been successful with that many on one roster."
On July 1, the Lakers also signed power forward and center Sandro Mamukelashvili, according to ESPN. Depending on on what the Lakers do with Rui Hachimura and other free agents, Mamukelashvili could emerge as a potential fourth White player in the starting lineup.
Two White NBA Finals MVPs in past 40 years
Debate over the role of race in NBA success has often led to tensions in a league that is drastically different than the overall U.S. population, which identifies as 57% White, according to Census estimates.
Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets' White, Serbian center, won back-to-back NBA MVPs in 2021 and 2022 and was named NBA Finals MVP in 2023, a year when he finished second to Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid in MVP voting.
Since the turn of the century, Jokic, Steve Nash (2005, 2006) and Dirk Nowitzki (2007) are White players to be named league MVP. Larry Bird (1984-86) was the last White NBA MVP prior to Nash.
Jokic and Nowitzki (2011) are the only White players to be named NBA Finals MVP since Bird won the award in 1984 and 1986.
For its part, the NBA has leaned into issues of social justice and cultural inclusion, a fact that Commissioner Adam Silver addressed in a 2016 interview. "I do feel a particular obligation to focus on the African-American community in that we have a league that is roughly 75 percent African-American," Silver told Andscape. "And I feel part of the obligation comes from the history of this league that I've inherited."
Talk of race, Lakers roster talk triggers backlash
On X, Smith came under attack for allegations of racism.
Wrote one commenter, "Now, if a white journalist said the EXACT same thing about BLACK players, Stephen A Smith would accuse the journalist of racial bias. When do we stop with the identity politics?"
Another commenter wrote, "Skin color don’t win championships, skill does. Stephen A. race-baiting again. Garbage take."
Wrote yet another, "Mr Smith, your race card is showing."
Martin’s comments led to some pushback from Rashad McCants, a former NBA player and co-host on Arenas' show who pointed to the Utah Jazz teams that in the 2000s had a starting lineup featuring two White players, Andrei Kirlenko and Mehmet Okur, with Matt Harping, another key contributor, coming off the bench. Those teams went to the Western Conference Finals once and a the Western Conference semifinals twice.
But more people cited the Boston Celtics, who won the 1986 NBA title. The team's starting lineup included three White players: Larry Bird, Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale.
BROOKLYN, NY - DECEMBER 21: James Wiseman #33 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on December 21, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
James Wiseman didn’t have a lot of luck in the NBA. He got drafted in Dec. 2020 and missed most of his first preseason when he got COVID. He injured his wrist and missed a month, then tore his meniscus near the end of his rookie season, which led to his missing the entirety of his sophomore season. During his third season, the Warriors traded him to the Detroit Pistons, a team that had four other centers, three of them his age.
He looked like he’d get a fresh start with the Indiana Pacers, only to tear his Achilles five minutes into his first game of the season. Wiseman would watch his team go to the NBA Finals with him out injured for the second time in five NBA seasons. He came back and played four games for the Pacers last season, only to be waived in favor of Warriors Summer League sensation/three-time dunk champion Mac McClung.
Now, his agent Misko Raznatovic, has declared that Wiseman will be continuing his career in Europe.
The decision has been made! The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, James Wiseman, will continue his career in Europe. We have begun exploring overseas opportunities and are working to identify the best situation for him!@excelbasketball#BeoBasket https://t.co/KgnovyYHoe
— Misko4Raznatovic (@MiskoRaznatovic) July 1, 2026
The move closes another chapter in the Warriors’ infamous “two timelines” approach to building their roster around unexpected lottery picks in 2020 and 2021. That in itself was justifiable, even if the team’s selections could have been better.
Wiseman was an intriguing raw talent who barely played college basketball, who ended up in a situation where injuries, safety protocols, and the competitiveness of his own team all conspired to stunt his development. Jonathan Kuminga was traded midway through his fifth season to the Atlanta Hawks, who passed on his option for 2026-27. Moses Moody was a solid selection for a No. 14 pick who suffered a horrific knee injury last season.
There were more issues with the Warriors doubling down and adding three more rookies to the 2022-23 team, but in short, not trading the No. 28 pick that became Patrick Baldwin, Jr. was indefensible at the time and even more ridiculous in hindsight.
Where does Wiseman go? There’s a lot of teams in Europe, though the pronouncement from Wiseman’s agent almost feels like he’s posting a want ad for his client, who is still only 25 years old. Another high-potential, low-results Warriors draft pick, Anthony Randolph, went on to win a championship with Real Madrid alongside Luka Doncic, and a EuroBasket title with Doncic on the Slovenian national team.
Wiseman deserves a fresh start, free from expectations and bad memories of the NBA. He’s still seven feet tall! And if he does find a home across the pond, he should see if his new team also has a place for Jonathan Kuminga in a few years.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs, which didn’t seem to be preparing to make any major moves in the offseason, made a solid if not necessarily exciting addition. San Antonio agreed to a two-year, $31 million deal with free agent forward Tobias Harris using their full non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception.
The signing raises some questions about the starting lineup and how the rotation will shake up, but it also brings something the 2025/26 Spurs lacked: a floor-raiser that should bring stability to some units without taking anything away from a team that already had a sky-high ceiling.
Harris, 33, is a known commodity. The veteran was never a star, even when he was compensated as one, but he has clear strengths and not many significant weaknesses. His career averages of 16 points and six rebounds on solid shooting splits paint an accurate picture of the type of production he offers. At this stage of his career, his scoring is not what it used to be in his prime, but he’s someone who can hit an open three, score against mismatches from midrange and at the bucket, and keep the ball moving. Defensively, he’s not a stopper but uses his size and remaining athleticism well against forwards and has enough mobility to not be a sieve in the perimeter. He’s also a good rebounder and a durable player, appearing in under 60 games just twice, in his first two seasons, while playing 70 or more in nine of his 15 years in the league. In other words, a solid all-around contributor.
If that doesn’t sound too exhilarating, it’s understandable. The offseason has featured big, shocking trades involving stars and, in general, offers the possibility to dream about underrated signings that change the fortune of teams lucky or smart enough to find hidden gems. In that context, adding a soon-to-be 34-year-old forward who disappointed when a franchise bet highly on him and can be accurately described as steady if you are a fan of his game and uninteresting if you aren’t, can be considered disappointing. The mystery box is always more alluraing that an adequate prize, and the offseason is a time of endless opportunities until a team actually makes its moves and reality sets in. It’s fine to look at Harris as the big addition the Spurs made and be simply content instead of thrilled. He’s just not that exciting.
The thing is, these Spurs didn’t really need more excitement. Victor Wembanyama and the guards provide plenty of that. What a team that, at its best, can beat anyone while being exhilarating to watch needed was to not go through so many surprisingly low moments in which they look too young, too nonchalant, too predictable, or too confused to stop opponent runs or avoid falling into holes. San Antonio had arguably the highest ceiling out of any group in the NBA last season, as their trip to the Finals and the sizable leads they held in each game proved. The star power was definitely there. The problem was their low floor; they lacked steadiness during stretches, and that often got them in trouble. And in that area, a player like Harris can absolutely help, as he has done for most of the teams he’s played for in his career.
One of San Antonio’s issues was defensive rebounding. Harris is well above average in that area, performing well individually both in the regular season and the playoffs. Untimely turnovers were also an issue at times for the Silver and Black, and Harris is not a mistake-prone player. Occasionally, the offense would stall out, with limited players ending up with the ball in their hands late in the clock. Harris is not by any measure an offensive engine, as evidenced by the Pistons’ struggles to create good looks when Cade Cunningham didn’t have the ball, but he can bail out the odd possession as a pick-and-roll ball handler or post scorer. He has the size and strength defensively to survive against most forwards, and he knows when to direct his man towards a help defender, both qualities that some of the Spurs’ power forwards lacked at times. He’s a more reliable version of what the Silver and Black had, essentially.
The only area in which his addition brings uncertainty is in the rotation. How big will his role be, and what will happen to the other players who share his position? There is a serious logjam now in the frontcourt that could prove challenging to solve. The 96 guard minutes should be split mostly between De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, with Devin Vassell getting the remaining scraps. But what happens with the small forward and power forward minutes? Do Vassell and Julian Champagnie continue to start, or does one of them sit to make room for Harris, who has started for practically his entire career? And how does the playing time get split? There are 96 minutes to spread around between Vassell, Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Harris. Someone is going to have a smaller role than they are used to, and it will be up to Mitch Johnson to figure out how to keep everyone happy.
What a great problem to have. With a couple of roster spots left to fill, the Spurs appear to have too many viable regular-season rotation players already and have added a proven playoff performer who averaged 18 and 7 for a second-round team last postseason. Whether he starts, which seems likely, or comes off the bench, Harris will be there when Mitch Johnson needs someone who will, more often than not, provide the production expected of him.
Normally, additions are judged by how much better a team is at its peak with them on the court. With Harris, that framework doesn’t really work because the best version of the Spurs didn’t have much room to grow beyond the internal development of their young superstars. What San Antonio needed was someone who was steady enough to help them avoid their worst version, and Harris seems like the perfect man for the job.
