What happened: Jayson Tatum said trading Jaylen Brown to the 76ers is "weird" for him, speaking at the 2026 ESPY Awards about the trade he first learned of through news reports. Tatum said Brown had been his teammate in all nine of his NBA seasons in Boston. The Celtics sent Brown to Philadelphia on July 6 in a deal built around Paul George and four future draft picks.

Why it matters: Tatum and Brown were selected with back-to-back No. 3 overall picks in 2016 and 2017 and paired to win Boston's 18th championship in 2024, making the split a break from the core that defined the Celtics' recent title run. Tatum said he still has to balance those emotions while "welcoming new teammates" for the 2026-27 season. Philadelphia now pairs Brown with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and remains a suitor for LeBron James in free agency.

What to watch: Tatum and the Celtics turn to building a new-look roster for 2026-27 after last season's first-round playoff exit to Philadelphia, while the 76ers work to integrate Brown alongside Embiid, Maxey and Vj Edgecombe.