A mystery 'good' team admitted it lowballed Boston on Jaylen Brown

The Boston Celtics blew up their core last week, sending Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. 

It ended a 10-year run in Boston for Brown, who won Finals MVP in 2024 and had just posted career-best numbers in Jayson Tatum's absence, and it broke up one of the league's better wing duos to hand a division rival a terrifying trio of Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

Critics have blasted the trade, with most experts grading the return as a massive letdown for a two-time All-NBA star who didn't even want out.

Now, days later, a new detail has emerged that makes the front office look even more questionable. Boston had at least one other suitor in the mix and they were reportedly left completely speechless by how things played out.

Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, appearing on The Ryen Russillo Show, said he spoke with a person inside that front office after the Philadelphia trade was finalized, while dropping a fascinating nugget on Brown’s trade. 

"Talked to one team… that absolutely made an offer for Jaylen Brown to Boston, a good team," Mannix said. "I talked to them after the deal was consummated with Philadelphia and they were stunned. Mostly because they knew their offer wasn't very good."

According to Mannix, they knew their opening offer was low, but they were completely ready to throw in more assets if the Celtics kept negotiating. But they noticed Boston seemed desperate to move Brown quickly. So, they decided to wait and see just how low the Celtics' asking price would drop before offering their best package.

That’s exactly why everyone is crushing Boston for the 9-time NBA All-Star’s return. Other front offices firmly believe that if the Celtics just had some patience, they could have gotten a haul for a 5-time All-Star and former Finals MVP. Instead, Boston rushed into a deal, leaving other teams feeling like the Sixers got Brown for a discount.

Who that mystery team is remains unconfirmed. But the fact that a front office is on record saying its lowball offer would've climbed says plenty about how the market actually viewed Brown's value before the Sixers stepped in.

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