Mike Gansey Reveals How the 76ers Landed Jaylen Brown
Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has revealed how the franchise managed to pull off one of the biggest moves of the 2026 NBA offseason, acquiring five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics.
The trade sent Paul George and a package of draft picks to Boston in exchange for Brown, dramatically changing Philadelphia’s roster and setting the stage for an even bigger move later in free agency.
The 76ers Were Not Sure They Could Get Brown
Gansey admitted that Philadelphia was not initially certain it would be able to acquire Brown.
As Boston explored the market for its star forward, the Sixers continued pursuing the opportunity rather than assuming the deal would happen. “We just kept at it,” Gansey explained.
One factor working in Philadelphia’s favor was its ability to absorb Brown’s massive contract because the team was already moving on from George’s significant financial commitment.
Paul George Contract Became Part of the Equation
Brown’s contract was viewed as a major financial commitment, with more than $60 million annually remaining on the deal. However, Gansey and the Sixers saw the situation differently.
Philadelphia’s willingness to move George, who was owed roughly $110 million over the following two seasons, gave the organization a pathway to take on Brown’s contract while upgrading its roster.
For the Sixers, the calculation was straightforward: Brown’s age, two-way ability, leadership and championship experience made the financial commitment worthwhile.
Brown Changed Philadelphia’s Entire Offseason
The significance of the trade became even greater when LeBron James subsequently chose Philadelphia in free agency.
Gansey later revealed that the Brown trade helped create momentum in the recruitment of James. According to Gansey, the Sixers had a better chance of landing LeBron once Brown was already part of the roster.
That means the Brown acquisition wasn’t simply a major move by itself—it became an important piece of Philadelphia’s larger offseason transformation.
A New Superstar Core
Philadelphia now has an extraordinary collection of talent around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The new-look roster includes:
- LeBron James
- Jaylen Brown
- Joel Embiid
- Tyrese Maxey
- VJ Edgecombe
The combination has immediately raised expectations around the franchise, which has not won an NBA championship since 1983.
Gansey’s First Major Offseason Pays Off
The Brown trade came during Gansey’s first offseason as the Sixers’ lead basketball executive. He followed the blockbuster deal by helping bring LeBron to Philadelphia and making additional roster moves designed to build a championship contender.
For Gansey, the Brown trade ultimately proved to be much more than a simple player-for-player transaction.
The Bottom Line
Mike Gansey’s strategy was built around recognizing an opportunity and continuing negotiations even when Philadelphia wasn’t certain Boston would ultimately move Jaylen Brown. The Sixers’ willingness to take on Brown’s contract while moving Paul George helped make the blockbuster deal possible. More importantly, Brown’s arrival helped change the trajectory of Philadelphia’s entire offseason, eventually contributing to the franchise landing LeBron James as well.
