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How will LeBron James’ summer decision impact the 2019 Boston Celtics?

By Jack Phillips

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LeBron’s free agency this summer could have a huge impact on the Boston Celtics next season

With the Cleveland Cavaliers down 2-0 in the NBA Finals and being on the verge of getting swept, Boston Celtics’ fans must sleep well at night knowing that they are being avenged. With that said, the NBA season for the Celtics has already come to an end and it’s never too early to start thinking about next season and what it has to offer.

Remember, the young Celtics were one game away this year from being in the Finals and they were without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving.

Las Vegas already released their odds for the 2018-2019 NBA championship team. The Celtics came in fourth place with 8/1 odds overall. The only other team in the Eastern Conference that finished ahead of Boston was the Philadelphia 76ers with 7/2 odds.

The funny thing is that the Cavaliers came in eighth place with 30/1 odds, demonstrating that the LeBron James effect is in full motion.

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Remember, James is still the best player in the world (his play in this year’s Playoffs has only solidified that claim). Based on these recent odds being released, it seems to think that the general public thinks that LeBron will most likely go to either the Houston Rockets or 76ers.

Assuming he wants to remain “King of the East,” James will most likely take his talents to where this nation started, a place where Celtics don’t necessarily feel welcome.

Now, there are positives and negatives to this situation if it were to come to fruition. If LeBron goes to Philadelphia, the next three years are automatically going to have Boston and Philly in the Eastern Conference Finals.

So, that means that the rivalry of the Celtics and 76ers will be reignited and it will make basketball in the Atlantic Division very hostile for the next few years (remember that the Toronto Raptors are also present).

The negative is that it will be very challenging for Boston to make it to the NBA Finals with LeBron on the opposing team year in and year out. But who knows? This scenario may never occur and LeBron could go to Houston or Los Angeles.

Next: Jaylen Brown can become the most improtant player on D

Either way, James’ impending decision this summer will have a huge impact on the rest of the league and it will be super interesting to see where the league is in a very short amount of time.

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