Danny Green isn’t buying the Boston Celtics as contenders anymore. The three-time NBA champion weighed in on Boston’s title chances after they agreed to send Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
Green stopped short of writing off the Celtics entirely, but he clearly believes that the franchise took a step back after dealing away its second-best player for a 36-year-old who has played 78 games across two seasons.
Danny Green Isn’t Buying the Celtics as Contenders
Brown is 29 years old and spent last season carrying Boston while Jayson Tatum rehabbed his torn Achilles for a large chunk of the campaign. Brown had a career year and finished No. 6 in NBA MVP voting.
Boston’s front office is clearly betting that the draft capital they acquired will help them retool, but Green was completely unconvinced by the timeline or the logic.
“They took two steps back, bro. This was a bad move,” Green said. “They’re not contenders. I’m serious. I’ll give them a top-six seed. They’ll get a top-six seed, but they’re not contenders… They’re going home in the first round.”
Initially, he called the Celtics a “play-in team,” but then walked it back and labeled Boston a “six seed.” He made it clear that he has Boston ranked behind the 76ers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, and Detroit Pistons entering the season.
“They took two steps back, bro. This was a bad move. They’re not contenders. I’m serious. I’ll give them a top six seed. They’ll get a top 6 seed but they’re not contenders.”
Danny Green believes the Boston Celtics will be a play-in team next season 👀pic.twitter.com/9hk6HejuZh
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 6, 2026
The production gap between Brown and George makes it hard to argue against Green. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 71 games last season, earning All-NBA Second Team honors.
George, who turned 36 years old this year, appeared in 37 games after missing time due to a knee injury and a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program. He averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in those 37 appearances.
George hasn’t played a full season in two years, and Green pointed this out as one of his major concerns about Boston’s roster.
The Celtics initially tried to trade Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Greek Freak ultimately ended up with the Miami Heat instead.
The Eastern Conference landscape has been altered this offseason, with the new-look Celtics now battling Brown in Philadelphia, Antetokounmpo in Miami, and Kawhi Leonard in Toronto, as well as the reigning champion Knicks. LeBron James’ free-agency decision could further shake things up, as the Cavaliers and Heat are rumored as potential landing spots.
For the Sixers, this was new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey’s first major splash. They added Brown alongside Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and V.J. Edgecombe, forming a scary lineup if Embiid can stay healthy.
Celtics legend Paul Pierce pushed back on Green’s criticism, arguing that Boston still has a top-five player in Tatum. However, Green pointed to Milwaukee as a recent example of how having a top-five player doesn’t automatically guarantee a team will be a contender.
Only time will tell if Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ front office made the right move. For now, they are facing significant backlash over the controversial trade, from players, analysts, and fans alike.
