The offseason started early for the Boston Celtics after a first-round playoff exit and it led to Jaylen Brown trade rumors.

The original target for Boston was Giannis Antetokounmpo, but once that fell through, the Celtics traded Brown to the Philadelphia76ers for Paul George and a pair of future first and second round draft picks.

The return for Brown is what was shocking and it led to speculation as to why the Celtics’ trade offer for Giannis fell short to the Miami Heat.

Ultimately, it came down to what Miami was willing to give up and Boston wasn’t, which was a package of young talent in addition to the draft picks.

It was also rumored that during negotiations between Boston and Giannis that Boston was unwilling to give him a three-year extension worth 35% of the cap. But it was reported by NBA Insider Shams Charania that even though Brown was the best player included in either of the trades, the package from Miami was simply better than Boston’s.

“The breakdown with the Giannis-Boston conversations was very simple: the Celtics did not want to give up Hugo Gonzalez and/or Baylor Scheierman and another draft asset when the Bucks asked for that from my reporting. That was the breakdown in that conversation. Their final offer was Jaylen Brown, two first round picks. That’s what it was.”

As Charania said, Boston’s final offer was Brown and two first round draft picks. On the other hand, Miami included Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jacquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis in addition to three first round draft picks, a pick swap, and a second round pick.

The Celtics are going to look different this season without Brown, their longest tenured player, after he spent the last decade in Boston.

After the trade, Boston ended up with George, but the offseason also included signing veterans Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr. they also drafted Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.

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Photo Credit: Jesse D. Garrabrant, NBAE Getty Images