The Celtics' Jaylen Brown-Paul George Trade Was So Bad, It Took Me Just 15 Minutes to Make Better Ones

The Boston Celtics' decision to trade Jaylen Brown for Paul George and a draft pick is just awful. There is another way to say it. Even from the perspective of someone who is not a Celtics fan, the deal feels like a massive underpayment for one of the league's premier two-way stars.

Paul George is now 36 years old, has struggled to stay healthy throughout recent seasons, and is playing under one of the NBA's least desirable contracts. Meanwhile, Brown is coming off of the best season of his career, earning consideration in the league's MVP race while helping Boston secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with 56 wins without his co-star Jayson Tatum, who was out for the majority of the season with a torn Achilles.

Because the return feels so underwhelming, it's worth asking what other possibilities Boston could have explored. Even spending just 10 to 15 minutes in a trade machine produces several scenarios that, at minimum, seem more appealing than accepting Paul George as the centrepiece of a deal.

Jalen Duren Sign-and-Trade with the Pistons

One possibility involves Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons. With Duren entering free agency, Boston could have explored a sign-and-trade built around the young centre. While such a deal would require additional pieces to satisfy salary and roster rules, the concept alone appears more attractive. Duren is viewed as a younger player with considerably more upside than George, and Detroit would likely have significant interest in acquiring a player of Brown's calibre.

Karl-Anthony Towns Swap with the Knicks

Another intriguing, albeit unlikely, idea would have been a straight swap with the New York Knicks involving Karl-Anthony Towns. Given the financial situations of both franchises, it's reasonable to think the two teams would at least discuss such a move. Brown is arguably the better overall player, but Towns remains an elite offensive big man and would represent a significantly stronger return than George.

Jamal Murray and Cam Johnson Package from Denver

One proposal that has already been discussed publicly came from Bill Simmons. His idea featured Jamal Murray and Cam Johnson heading to Boston in exchange for Brown and Sam Hauser. While there's no guarantee the Denver Nuggets would agree, their recent playoff disappointments make it a conversation worth having. Likewise, the Celtics would be acquiring an All-Star calibre point guard and a wing player in return.

A Kawhi Leonard Blockbuster (Before Clippers Made Deal with Toronto)

A more controversial idea centres around Kawhi Leonard before the Clippers traded him to Toronto. Although Leonard reportedly preferred returning to the Raptors, history has shown that preferred destinations don't always dictate outcomes. Leonard once preferred joining another team before ultimately being traded to Toronto, where he helped deliver a championship. A package built around Kawhi may not be perfect, and it isn't necessarily a trade worth making, but it still appears stronger than receiving Paul George.

Anthony Davis Plus Draft Picks

Again, not a trade I would do, but the Washington Wizards also present an interesting possibility. A deal centred around Anthony Davis and draft picks would have been worth exploring. While Davis has his own injury concerns, he remains a superior player to George when healthy. Additionally, Davis has one fewer year remaining on his contract, which would provide Boston with greater long-term salary flexibility if creating cap space was part of the motivation behind moving Brown.

Lauri Markkanen and Draft Capital from Utah

Boston also has a long-standing relationship with the Utah Jazz through former Celtics executive Danny Ainge. A trade package centred around Lauri Markkanen plus draft compensation could have made sense for both organizations. The Jazz are looking to improve, and Brown represents a clear upgrade as a franchise cornerstone. From Boston's perspective, Markkanen is viewed as a more valuable asset than Paul George, while the additional draft picks would further strengthen the return.

Kevin Durant and Picks from Houston

Finally, if the Celtics were determined to acquire an older superstar, why not aim higher? A deal involving Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and draft picks in exchange for Brown and Sam Hauser would have been far more compelling. The Houston Rockets were one of the NBA's biggest disappointments last season, and I guarantee you Durant could be available for the right package. Houston would likely welcome the opportunity to build around Brown, while Boston would receive one of the greatest scorers in league history along with additional assets.

Not every one of these hypothetical trades is equally realistic, and several likely never would have materialized. However, that isn't the central point.

This exercise simply illustrates how many alternatives existed that would have been better than trading Jaylen Brown for Paul George.