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Of Windows And Kings: The Case For Boston To Sign LeBron James

By Joe DeFerrari

BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talk after the Cleveland Cavaliers win the game 87-79 during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics on May 27, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talk after the Cleveland Cavaliers win the game 87-79 during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics on May 27, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on before Game Five against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 9, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on before Game Five against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 9, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

The Problems

The Celtics are over the salary cap. Even if LeBron agrees to take a large pay cut, Boston would still have to send out significant salary to afford him. The feeling from the media is that Kyrie Irving would be shipped out; he’s only under contract for one more season, and will command a massive contract that will pay him $42.8 million when he’s 32. Considering his injury history, that should trouble Celtics fans.

Oh, and Kyrie kinda left Cleveland to get away from LeBron. Things might be awkward.

Shipping out Irving alone, though, still does not get Boston far enough. They would need to ditch more salary, probably both Marcus Morris and Terry Rozier on top of Irving. Even after getting rid of these three, Boston would only be able to offer LeBron about $22 million (assuming the cap jumps to $101 million, as expected). Maybe that’s enough, but Boston might have to get more creative to find extra space.

In any case, Boston would be losing a lot of depth, and likely filling out its roster with minimum salary players. Boston could use the Larry Bird exception to sign Marcus Smart and go over the salary cap, but would soon find itself close to the luxury tax. Yet more importantly, Boston would be losing a young star. Kyrie has had injury problems, but is only 26. Lebron is 33.

(It’s also completely possible that Boston could trade Gordon Hayward or Al Horford instead, but there’s only so many possibilities one article can cover; we’ll assume, for now, that the media speculation has been correct and that Kyrie would be the one to be moved.)

Danny Ainge famously said after the Irving deal that Irving fit the Celtics’ timeline. Bringing in LeBron would put a wrench in that timeline, forcing Boston to lose the young star at the heart of its promising young core. The Celtics would be in win-now mode with two key wings, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, combining for 41 years of age. Especially given Boston’s unquestionably successful season, many argue that this core should be allowed to grow together.

This narrative, though, is missing a key point.

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