Bob Cousy: Jaylen Brown trade could set Celtics back ‘considerably’

The shock over the Celtics’ decision to trade Jaylen Brown has reached one of the biggest names in franchise history.

Hall of Famer Bob Cousy admitted he was caught off guard by Boston’s blockbuster deal that sent Brown to the rival 76ers in exchange for Paul George and draft picks.

“I woke up to a complicated world today,” the 97-year-old Cousy told the Boston Globe. “It’s difficult to understand this from a Celtic standpoint.”

Cousy questioned the return Boston received for a player entering the prime of his career.

“I’d like to be in Brad Stevens’ mind and understand what his thinking is,” Cousy said. “He didn’t really get anything for Brown to speak of.”

While acknowledging George’s decorated career, Cousy noted that the veteran forward is nearing the latter stages of it.

“Paul George was a superstar but is on the way out, so this could set the Celtics back considerably — especially if Tatum is delayed with his comeback,” Cousy said. “There’s a lot of ‘ifs’ to this and it really surprised me.”

According to longtime Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, the move is virtually unprecedented in modern Celtics history.

Shaughnessy pointed out that Boston has traded accomplished veterans before — including Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Cedric Maxwell and Danny Ainge — but none were in the middle of their prime like Brown, a five-time All-Star who just completed arguably the best season of his career.

The closest historical comparison, Shaughnessy wrote, dates all the way back to 1956, when Red Auerbach traded six-time All-Star Ed Macauley to St. Louis as part of the deal that ultimately brought Bill Russell to Boston.

This time, however, there is no Bill Russell waiting on the other end.

Instead, the Celtics are betting that George can still help them compete while hoping the future draft assets eventually pay dividends.

Whether that gamble works remains to be seen, but one thing is already clear.

As Cousy’s reaction showed, the trade has stunned not only today’s NBA observers, but even those who helped build the Celtics into one of basketball’s most decorated franchises.