It turns out the Boston Celtics inadvertently influenced the LeBron James sweepstakes, as the Philadelphia 76ers apparently won it once they got their hands on Jaylen Brown. For that same reason, many are blaming the Celtics for their part in orchestrating the whole situation.
To which I say: What?!
Yes, the Sixers getting Brown is what got them LeBron, but lo and behold, if you didn't want that to happen, you should have paid a higher price to get Brown in the first place. Doing so would have prevented such a union in the City of Brotherly Love. Even better, it could have opened the door to get James. Cleveland would certainly have to think so in hindsight, regardless of the cost.
Boston didn't trade Brown with the intention of ensuring that LeBron would join forces with him in Philadelphia, but did so with their focus on the future. Whatever happened after that was on everyone else, not them. Everyone admits that the Celtics didn't get exactly the best return for Brown. But guess what? They also took the best deal that was on the table, as underwhelming as it appears.
They also evidently wanted to resolve this situation as soon as possible so as not to risk it potentially getting worse, i.e., Brown becoming a problem internally and/or any interested suitors offering less as more time passed.
Boston did not care how the LeBron sweepstakes shook out
It goes without saying that the Celtics didn't want a division rival to get stronger, but again, what could they have done? Beg LeBron, someone who clearly hates Boston with a passion, not to join one of their fiercest competitors? James didn't choose the Sixers to spite the Celtics (well, maybe a little), but chose them because he thought they gave him the best chance at one last title.
Once they traded Brown, he was no longer their concern and evidently did not pay any attention to where LeBron was going.
Everyone else can blame Boston all they want for dominoes falling the way they have, but because those teams failed to see the full scope of this situation - the prospect of getting both Brown and LeBron - they have to blame themselves for failing to see that they had the chance to give them enough talent to be considered a title contender.
Teams clearly weren't comfortable paying up for Brown or paying Brown for his services, but if they had known it gave them a better chance to add James, maybe they would have been happier to go all in. Because that was in their control and not Boston's, that's on them.
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