Would LeBron have made sense in Boston?
According to new reporting from ESPN, future Hall of Famer LeBron James spoke with 27 teams before ultimately signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year deal.
One of those teams was the Boston Celtics, his longtime rival with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers.
Was it simple due diligence, or was there real and genuine interest on both sides? We don't know really, other than the Celtics "expressed interest."
There are a few questions and observations that we have, so let's dive in.
When exactly did the Celtics express interest?
Did the Celtics express interest before trading Jaylen Brown to the 76ers or afterwards?
If you recall, news broke that the trade was happening on July 1, and then it was completed on July 6. NBA Free Agency's legal tampering period began on June 30, so did the C's reach out to James then, before news of the Brown trade?
Or did they reach out after the trade was reported, hoping that James could have been part of the solution for moving on without Brown?
Would a deal have made sense for James and the Celtics?
If Brown was still on the roster, probably not.
A) The money might have been too tough to navigate, given that Brown and Jayson Tatum are both making near the top of the league's food chain.
B) Tatum, Brown, Payton Pritchard and James are all players that need the ball in their hands a decent amount. There were already going to be questions about how Tatum and Brown interacted again on the floor and how they shared the spotlight. Sharing the ball with James would have been tough to navigate as well.
However, in a post-Brown world, I think a deal for James would have made great sense.
A) He could have been a primary ballhandler, and he could have helped Tatum by putting him in a primary scorer's role and less of a facilitator's role. He could have also helped further open things up for Pritchard, helping to elevate his game. Each player would need the ball in their hands still, but three people are easier to navigate than four.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesWhy would James not choose Boston?
Pretty simple. James sees the 76ers as better equipped to win an NBA title, and he's probably right at this point.
While a duo of him and Tatum could have done excellent things, it likely falls short of the possibilities for him, Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia.
Furthermore, James's legacy would be heightened by bringing a title to Philadelphia, who hasn't won a title since 1983. The Celtics just won the title in 2023-24, meaning that the accomplishment wouldn't have been perceived as that special. And for a player chasing the shadow of Michael Jordan, perception and accomplishments truly matter.
