LeBron James just made the Celtics' 76ers nightmare scenario even worse

The Boston Celtics have handed the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer is taking his talents to the City of Brotherly Love.

James then quickly confirmed the news himself.

Many questioned why the Celtics were willing to send Jaylen Brown to a rival. Trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers, who also fit that description, would have been bad enough. However, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP is now on a team that Boston will face six times this year, including two preseason tilts.

There's also a good chance they will have to go through Brown and the Sixers during the playoffs at some point in their former star's tenure in Philadelphia.

If so, the challenge just steepened now that James will be flanking him.

Celtics can only blame themselves for LeBron James joining 76ers

While confident in its decision and what it can do for them in the short and long term, if Boston hadn't made that deal with a bitter rival, then the Sixers wouldn't have just landed James. As noted previously, it was a franchise that seemed stuck.

They had little to look forward to outside of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe's ascent. That's an exciting prospect, but still one that's more important to their long-term outlook than the upcoming campaign.

Now, they have Brown, James, and a chance to win an Eastern Conference that still feels wide open.

Is LeBron James the 76ers' missing piece?

The summer fireworks set off in Philadelphia could backfire. After all, the usage rate for their new star forwards could detract from Edgecombe's growth. And there's no telling if Joel Embiid will be healthy in the playoffs.

However, if you're the Sixers, you roll the dice. A championship is a bridge too far for this author, but it's a group talented enough to get there. Their fan base will happily take a Finals run, even if it ends in disappointment. And once on that stage, you have a shot at the Larry O'Brien Trophy. That's all anyone can ask for.

Projections aside, James is the type of leader and stabilizing force the 76ers need. He and Brown bring an exemplary work ethic and winning habits.

Their arrivals are ideal for getting the most out of Embiid, who showed during the first round against the Celtics that he can still be a force when healthy.

They also figure to leave a lasting impression on Maxey and Edgecombe, Philadelphia's burgeoning guards.

Even if these acquisitions don't pan out as the organization hopes, they're the type of figures who elevate an entire franchise. It's comparable to what Kevin Garnett did for Boston upon arriving in 2008.

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