Jaylen Brown spent July and August running pick-and-roll sets with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia's practice facility. Jonathan Kuminga flew to Minneapolis in mid-August for what Minnesota called "voluntary" workouts with Anthony Edwards. Boston sent Brown to the 76ers for Tobias Harris's expiring $39.2M deal, two unprotected first-round picks (2027, 2029), and a 2028 pick swap. Golden State moved Kuminga to the Timberwolves for a protected 2026 first and two second-rounders.
The Brown trade closes Boston's $304M supermax extension window signed in July 2023. Philadelphia absorbs $57.8M in annual salary through 2029 while clearing Harris's contract a year early. The Celtics drop below the second apron for 2025-26, saving ownership roughly $90M in tax penalties over two seasons. Boston's new starting five—Tatum, White, Holiday, Porzingis, Horford—carries a combined age of 31.6 years and $168M in guaranteed money for next season. The front office now owns four first-round picks between 2025 and 2027, including Milwaukee's top-four protected selection.
Philadelphia's calculation is simpler. Brown gives them a third All-NBA talent before Embiid turns 31 in March. The 76ers ranked 22nd in half-court offense last season when Maxey sat. Brown posted a 59.7% true shooting percentage in isolation sets and shot 35.4% on catch-and-shoot threes over the past three years. His contract runs parallel to Embiid's $213M extension through 2028. League sources expect Philadelphia to enter luxury tax territory for the first time since 2020, with projected payroll near $185M before mid-level signings.
Minnesota's acquisition is narrower. Kuminga averaged 16.1 points on 52.9% shooting during Golden State's final 28 games last season, a stretch that coincided with Draymond Green missing 18 games for suspension and injury. The Timberwolves need a fourth scorer after trading Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Kuminga's $6.0M salary for 2024-25 fits below Minnesota's second-apron hard cap. He becomes extension-eligible next summer, with projected asks in the $25M-$30M annual range based on comparables like Scottie Barnes and Franz Wagner.
Golden State's exit is the signal. The Warriors paid $177M in luxury tax penalties last season, the highest in league history. Kuminga's departure saves roughly $40M in combined salary and tax for 2025-26 if he had signed a market-rate extension. The front office is now operating with $12M in cap space and the mid-level exception, chasing veterans on short deals rather than locking in young talent past Stephen Curry's $55.8M player option in 2027.
Watch for Boston's coordinator hires in the next 30 days—Brad Stevens typically fills assistant slots by mid-September. Philadelphia's season-ticket renewal window closes October 4th, and early reports suggest 92% retention, up from 87% last year. Minnesota's extension talks with Kuminga will start after the season, likely during the February All-Star break when comparable deals for 2020 draftees finalize. Golden State's front office has targeted 2026 free agency, when Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić can opt out.
Brown's first preseason game with Philadelphia is October 8th in Boston. Ticket resale prices on StubHub are already tracking 40% above the Celtics' preseason average.