Jaylen Brown-Paul George Comparison Addressed by Mazzulla After Shocking Celtics-76ers Trade

Following the blockbuster trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and a package of draft picks, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed the inevitable comparisons that will be made between the two players.

Speaking to Jay King of The Athletic, Mazzulla acknowledged that although comparisons are going to happen, the Celtics aren't looking for George to be a like-for-like replacement for Brown.

"Again, there [are] two things," said Mazzulla. "There's the actual skill set of the player. And then, there's the mentality of, can we leverage the fact we don't know how much time he has, but can we take advantage of some of the hunger that you have to be able to have? ... And so, Paul's a great player. And [comparisons are] going to happen, but it's not fair. It's just the way it is.

"Because there was a transaction between Jaylen and Paul George, it doesn't mean one's better. And that's not what we're looking for. We're looking for the best version of Paul George. No one's going to replace Jaylen Brown on our team and what he's done in the community. No one's going to do that. And we're not asking that to happen, but we need and I need as a coach and we need as a staff and we as a team have to demand the best of what Paul George can bring in because he's got a lot left. And he's a damn good player in the league."

Mazzulla also talked about the difficulty of moving forward without Brown because of what he brought to the table as a player and a person in Boston.

"Not going to be able to replace him," Mazzulla said. "I think it's twofold. It's the on-court competitiveness, the mindset that he brings, and also just the icon that he was in the community. I think that's also why this was so difficult. The day something like this happens, and you just don't lose any sleep over it, is when you're in it for the wrong reasons. And I think that's the same for the organization. I think it's the same for the fans. I think it's the same for the city. The city cares about the people. There's a level of connectivity and inspiration there. So, the hurt makes a ton of sense because people care about each other. If we didn't care, it wouldn't hurt."

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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