NBA Expert Changes His Tune on Celtics' Jaylen Brown-Paul George Trade

Noh originally gave the Celtics a C- for the deal but now assigns them an A, while maintaining an A grade for the 76ers and calling the trade a "win-win" for both teams.

George has opened the season with strong production for Boston. Through nine games, he is averaging 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting a career-best 42.5 percent from three-point range, NESN reported. His play has helped the Celtics to an 8-2 start, leaving them half a game behind the 9-2 76ers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Noh highlighted two key factors for the upgraded Celtics grade. First, George's offensive fit: "George has also taken on a good chunk of the offensive load for Boston," Noh wrote. "While he's no longer an elite driver, he draws a ton of defensive attention from his shooting. The Celtics have him flying off screens, getting him clean looks or advantages going downhill." Second, the increasing value of a 2028 first-round pick swap with the Los Angeles Clippers. "At the time, it wasn't immediately obvious how bad the Clippers would be in 2028 when the Celtics received the option to swap first-rounders with them," Noh wrote. "Now, after trading away Kawhi Leonard and getting hit with multiple penalties by Adam Silver, it's almost a surefire bet that the Clippers will be among the worst teams in the league. Boston should have the best odds possible for a top pick in that deep draft."

Durability remains a concern for the 36-year-old George, who played only 78 games over two seasons with Philadelphia and has topped 60 games just once in the last seven seasons, NESN noted. However, the draft capital acquired in the trade, particularly the Clippers swap, adds long-term upside for Boston if George sustains his early performance.