NBA analyst Charles Barkley voiced surprise and enthusiasm over the recent trade that brought Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, calling it a move where the team "got away with murder."
Barkley, speaking on "Unfiltered with Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo," shared his initial disbelief upon hearing the news. "I was like, ‘This can’t be a true story.’ There’s so much fake stuff on the internet now, I’m like, ‘Nah, they didn’t trade him to the Sixers,'" he said.
The trade, which sent Paul George and four draft picks to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Brown, was seen by Barkley as a significant coup for Philadelphia. "Man, the Sixers just got away with murder, man," Barkley commented.
He further elaborated on the potential impact of the trade for the 76ers, suggesting that the team was previously facing a prolonged period of struggle. "They were dead in the water, to be honest with you. Because Paul’s contract and Joel’s inability to stay healthy, they were going to be out the running for the next three or four or five years," Barkley stated. "And now, all of a sudden, they’re a legit contender."
With the addition of Brown, Barkley believes Philadelphia has assembled a formidable core that includes rising stars Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, alongside the healthy presence of center Joel Embiid. "I mean, [Brown] and Maxey and Edgecombe and whatever they get out of Joel, they’re going to be a really good team. [Nick] Nurse is a hell of a coach, and Jaylen’s a hell of a player," Barkley noted.
Barkley concluded that the acquisition elevates the 76ers' status significantly. "The Sixers just became a contender in the East. You go from being irrelevant to being a serious contender in the Eastern Conference for the next three years. It’s pretty good for Philadelphia right now," he said.
Last season, the 76ers finished the regular season seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 45-37 record. Their playoff run ended in the conference semifinals when they were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks.