The one player Boston Celtics couldn't get from Philadelphia 76ers in the Jaylen Brown trade

In the Jaylen Brown trade, the Boston Celtics received a deal but not the player they targeted from the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown was traded from Boston to its Eastern Conference rival after weeks of negotiations, with reports indicating the Celtics’ preferred ask was rejected. According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Boston requested Philadelphia’s standout rookie VJ Edgecombe to be included, but the 76ers refused because he is part of their core. With leverage shifting, Boston ended up accepting Paul George as a salary-matching piece, plus two first- and second-round picks. The article frames the outcome as unfavorable for Boston, also noting the Celtics missed an opportunity to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and may struggle to rely on George as a consistent playoff performer.