Behind the scenes, negotiations involved other hopefuls. The Charlotte Hornets were deeply in the mix, and insiders noted they had a solid offer on the table before concerns prompted them to pivot. Reportedly, Charlotte proposed a package that included draft compensation, Miles Bridges (before his move to Phoenix), and Naz Reid. The Celtics rejected that offer, seeking Brandon Miller and more than three first-round picks, and the Hornets then explored other avenues, ultimately trading Bridges to the Suns and moving on from Reid discussions with other teams.
Despite analytics painting Brown as an overrated asset, interest remained high across the league. Teams initially showed momentum toward Brown, but complications arose when he expressed disinterest in playing for certain franchises. This stance added a layer of complexity to talks with several suitors, including the Hornets, New Orleans, and Brooklyn, complicating Celtics’ leverage in the process.
Denver was among the teams that showed apparent interest, with the idea of pairing Brown alongside Nikola Jokic. However, negotiations stalled when Denver refused to include Jamal Murray in any deal and lacked sufficient tradeable draft capital, prompting the Celtics to shift their focus elsewhere.
In the end, multiple hopefuls—Charlotte, Brooklyn, New Orleans, and Denver—were all unable to seal deals for Brown for various reasons. The 76ers emerged as the final team at the table, ultimately securing Brown with a comparatively lighter package than some had anticipated.
For Boston, the result is a difficult outcome. The franchise had been pursuing other high-profile targets before pivoting to a different path. The experience underscores a central lesson in high-stakes trades: things do not always unfold as expected. For Brown, the move represents an opportunity to prove doubters wrong and demonstrate why teams faced with his evaluation should have considered him more seriously. As he steps into a new role with Philadelphia, the challenge will be to showcase his value and justify the decision to part with a larger ensemble of assets.
