Philadelphia native and South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley is in disbelief over how the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason is going.
The 76ers pulled off a shocking trade on Wednesday, sending Paul George, two first-round picks (2028 and 2031), and two second-round picks (2028 and 2030) to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown.
Excitement ramped up even more when a report emerged that the 76ers are also pursuing four-time MVP LeBron James in free agency. The stunning sequence caused a social media storm, prompting the multi-titled coach to comment.
76ers’ Bold Jaylen Brown Trade Sparks Elated Response From Dawn Staley Amid LeBron James Buzz
After missing out on Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom the Milwaukee Bucks dealt to the Miami Heat over a week ago, the Celtics continued to make Brown available in trade talks. Boston reportedly asked for four first-round picks on top of an All-Star-caliber replacement to pry the 2024 NBA Finals MVP from Beantown.
Shockingly, the 76ers landed Brown for the 36-year-old George, who has played 78 games across the past two seasons. Brown is a bona fide star who led the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite Jayson Tatum playing only 16 games this past season. In what was supposedly Boston’s gap year, Brown kept his former team among the conference elites.
Staley couldn’t hold back her excitement after the trade was reported.
“We really got @FCHWPO?!!! Let’s gooooo @sixers! Hey Jaylen, no one’s going to love you like us, Philly fans. All of you!” Staley tweeted.
We really got @FCHWPO?!!! Let’s gooooo @sixers! Hey Jaylen no one’s going to love you like us Philly fans. All of you!
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 2, 2026
Brown has been a big thorn in the 76ers’ side since the Celtics drafted the 6-foot-6 wing in 2016. Before beating Boston 4-3 in this year’s postseason, Philadelphia lost three straight playoff series (2018, 2020, and 2023) against the Brown-led Celtics. Now, the five-time All-Star becomes the 76ers’ most seasoned and accomplished playoff performer.
The Brown trade might have just been the appetizer, though. According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, the 76ers “have reached out and are expressing interest in acquiring LeBron James.”
Staley responded to that report, too, writing, “Lawd….@KingJames you about that Philly life?!! @sixers.”
Lawd….@KingJames you about that Philly life?!! @sixers 🫣🫣🫣 https://t.co/dV0UKCBO3H
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 2, 2026
After getting swept by the New York Knicks in the semifinals of the 2026 Eastern Conference playoffs, the 76ers retooled in a way that could be franchise-altering. Their core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe gets a major boost with Brown. Those four alone arguably make the team the favorites to come out of the East.
Staley’s unbridled excitement is understandable. If the 76ers also land James, the NBA championship could return to Philadelphia for the first time in over four decades.
