The inescapable reality Celtics fans missed about LeBron James and Jaylen Brown

When you look back at how this NBA offseason unfolded, LeBron James joining forces with Jaylen Brown seems like it was a practically inescapable outcome.

Had the Cleveland Cavaliers been willing to part with Evan Mobley, they could have landed Brown and brought James home. They should be kicking themselves over their decision to pass on that opportunity.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Boston Celtics approached the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline and on night one of this year's NBA Draft. Their ask for the 2024 Finals MVP was four first-round picks.

Golden State deciding that was too steep a price is understandable. However, the Warriors had the chance to acquire James and Anthony Davis for a heavily discounted rate. Instead, they opted against it. Their decision creates a sad outlook on what the end of Stephen Curry's career might look like.

Now James and Brown are in the City of Brotherly Love. These three scenarios, including the one that came to fruition, involve three of four finalists for arguably the greatest player of all time. While it was easy to lose sight of this in the immediate aftermath of James' decision, it speaks to the reality that these two partnering had a much higher probability than it seemed.

The Celtics' NBA title path runs through Philly

As Brad Stevens noted at his press conference after the boldest decision of his tenure as president of basketball operations, one that has been stellar to this point, Boston and Philadelphia are set to square off six times in the 2026-27 campaign.

That includes two preseason tilts. It may also feature a Christmas clash. The marquee date on the NBA's regular-season calendar seems like the perfect time for Brown to make his return to TD Garden [excluding a potential cameo in an exhibition contest].

In particular, those four regular-season matchups carry considerable weight. They will help shape who finishes where in the Eastern Conference standings.

But that's the appetizer before the entrée that is the playoffs arrives. The Celtics have run into the 76ers on that stage four times in the last 10 years.

History suggests Celtics & 76ers will see each other in the playoffs

It's not just Jayson Tatum who is accustomed to seeing Philadelphia in the postseason; since the 1950s, the C's have engaged in playoff combat with the City of Brotherly Love's NBA franchise in every decade but the '90s.

It's practically an unavoidable scenario. And now, it would include Brown and Tatum standing in each other's path to a second championship. And whether it's for one year or multiple campaigns, thanks to the Celtics' decision, the homegrown star they said goodbye to now has LeBron James beside him.

It makes the next chapter of this fierce northeast rivalry among the most compelling in the book. The stakes are higher, the road got harder for Boston, and the Celtics may be responsible for the Sixers capturing an NBA title for the first time in over 40 years.

But what an opportunity for Tatum to elevate his legacy! He could best Brown and deny James the chance at a fifth ring. A championship with a fourth franchise would bolster the argument for those who believe he's the greatest basketball player of all time. Instead, his final chapter could include Tatum and the Celtics vanquishing him.

It's a dream scenario that the history between these two franchises suggests is likely to be put on the line.

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