​Celtics Trade Analysis: Why the Jaylen Brown Deal Makes More Sense Than Fans First Believed originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Just two weeks ago, the Boston Celtics shocked the NBA by trading one of their homegrown franchise superstars, Jaylen Brown, to a division rival in the Philadelphia 76ers. The return was criticized by many, as the Celtics only received a highly expensive and aging Paul George, along with two first-round picks and two second-round picks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn the surface, this trade looks like a total fiasco for the Celtics. They replaced a Brown in his prime with an old George, and didn’t get as many picks as they were hoping for either. However, this trade might have been the best thing the Celtics could have done if you inspect closer.Here are a few reasons why the Brown trade will pay off for Boston down the road.Jaylen BrownGary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesFirst and foremost, the Celtics would not have been able to afford to keep Brown anyway, not with his extension eligibility coming up. Look at Cleveland Cavaliers franchise superstar Donovan Mitchell: He was just extended for four years, $273 million. By the end of that contract, he will be making a whopping $75 million per year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBrown will command a much bigger extension than that, and at some point, so will Jayson Tatum. Under the new CBA, it’s just not feasible to have both players anymore. So one had to be cut, and Tatum wasn’t going to be it.Jayson Tatum© Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesNow that the Celtics have traded Brown, it seems the roster is going to be completely built around Tatum, similar to how the Houston Rockets completely built around James Harden and the OKC Thunder built around Russell Westbrook when Kevin Durant left.Tatum is a beast when the ball is in his hands. Noted by FOX analyst Colin Cowherd, the Celtics are dominant when Tatum controls the ball most of the time. In the past four seasons when his usage rate is above a third of the time, the Celtics win almost 90% of their games, going 76-9.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen it’s lower? The Celtics are 99-52, which is still almost 66%, but you’re sacrificing a whopping 24% by just not giving Tatum the ball more.Jayson Tatum IMAGN 03122026Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesSo, there’s no argument now: the Celtics are Tatum’s team. Stars like George, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White will support him, along with all their other top-tier role players.This might be the way to go; the only way to find out is to watch next season and compare it to how Brown does with Philadelphia.Latest Celtics newsTD Garden fan guide: What to know before you goComplete history of Celtics championships