The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.
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Until Wednesday.
The Sixers traded Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-rounders to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown on Day 2 of free agency, and social media has a lot to say.
Here is how fans, experts, players, and even some sportsbooks are reacting to the trade:
The early favorite
From fans to experts, the consensus on social media is that the Sixers got more than they gave in acquiring Brown.
paul george only exists to fleece teams https://t.co/zdnSL9WILH
— 🇵🇷𝖀𝒢𝕴𝒪🇿🇦 (@PengPantheress) July 1, 2026
So Boston just traded their best player for a 2027 version of Paul George… what an absolute steal from Philly.
Maxey, Brown, Embiid, Edgecombe… man.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) July 1, 2026
Even some sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars, and Fliff are reacting to the trade and calling Boston’s side of the deal lackluster.
Celtics fans: Please trade for Giannis we’d be so good
Celtics: pic.twitter.com/PqCcWFIM83
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) July 1, 2026
Jaylen Brown traded for Paul George https://t.co/nCFLPU0uWO pic.twitter.com/f9pTmXzati
— Fliff (@fliff) July 1, 2026
The Celtics return for trading Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/tpoUI6jhYx
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) July 1, 2026
Showing some Brotherly Love
The trade didn’t just have fans and media talking. Other Sixers and figures with Philly ties have shared their thoughts on the newest addition to the roster.
The nba is doing that THING AGAIN!
— Tyrese Maxey (@TyreseMaxey) July 1, 2026
While Tyrese Maxey took to X to react, fellow Sixers VJ Edgecombe and Jabari Walker reposted the news on their Instagram stories with Walker captioning the story “scary sight.”
And despite their current New York ties, Abdul Carter and Josh Hart shared their thoughts on the acquisition — and the NBA offseason at large. Carter is a Philadelphia native and Penn State product who’s now an edge rusher for the New York Giants while Hart is a former Villanova star who’s now a New York Knick.
Jaylen Brown IN PHILLY🔥🔥
— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) July 1, 2026
The East offseason is crazy
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 1, 2026
With love from Boston
Some Celtics fans took to social media to express appreciation for Brown’s time in Boston, especially for leading them to an NBA championship, for which he was named Finals MVP in 2024.
Jaylen Brown said he’d go to war for Boston.
He did that, secured a title, and likely put his name in the rafters. For him to be sent to Philadelphia is something probably no Celtics fans wanted, but it was a fruitful tenure overall.
Boston should never forget what he did. pic.twitter.com/ryHGdBtPba
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) July 1, 2026
Others seemingly still are having trouble processing the trade.
WE TRADED OUR 10+ YEAR HOMEGROWN SUPERSTAR FOR PAUL GEORGE???????? PAUL GEORGE????????? pic.twitter.com/n06nmazY1L
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) July 1, 2026
Interesting team dynamics
Brown and Jayson Tatum being split up opens the door to a George and Tatum duo, which a few people on social media seem to be excited about.
They split up the Jays 💔 pic.twitter.com/oQAReygAFl
— ESPN (@espn) July 1, 2026
Jayson Tatum & Paul George are teammates. 🔥
Elite duo pic.twitter.com/cGII6NdjfN
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 1, 2026
Others find it more detrimental to Tatum’s career.
So the answer to the next few years of Tatum’s prime is to give him 36 and 37 year old Paul George??????????????????????????????????
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) July 1, 2026
And in Philly, fans are looking forward to seeing the connection between Joel Embiid and Brown following some of the comments Brown made regarding Embiid and his “flopping” after the Game 7 matchup between Boston and the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs this season.
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How quickly we forget https://t.co/L2RSD9gg6h
— dhwani (@dhwanisaraiya_) July 1, 2026