With the free agency window officially open, the NBA has been teeming with activity. From key offseason signings to trade rumblings, there has been a lot happening around the league. Still, nothing has drawn as much attention as LeBron James‘ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a surprising move, LeBron James informed the Lakers that he would not be returning to play for them in the 2026-27 season, effectively communicating that he would be on the lookout for a new team this summer. Needless to say, this gave rise to several narratives and discussions about the superstar’s next landing spot. On that note, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst had to acknowledge the impact of James’ decision.
“The league changed this afternoon with LeBron coming on the market,” Windhorst began. “Not only that, but basically announcing that he’s available to just about everybody. So start your engines on how you’re going to retrofit because that is the curveball that affected the whole market.”
While speaking about James’ future, Windhorst also touched on Jaylen Brown‘s current position with the Boston Celtics. He continued:
“Jaylen Brown has not found a home. The Celtics have not found him a home after they tried to send him to Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Over the last week, they have spoken to a number of other teams, but they have failed to get traction on a deal. The Cleveland Cavaliers learned today that LeBron James will be willing to play for less than his market value salary. That changed everything.”
“So how does Cleveland get LeBron James’ attention?” Windhorst asked. “Do they show him their brand new practice facility that they’re building?… That’s not going to impress him. What is going to impress him is if they do something with their roster.”
Up until this point, Windhorst hadn’t shared anything particularly groundbreaking. Reports of LeBron James choosing his next team based on “happiness” rather than money have generated considerable intrigue around the league. Still, it is worth noting that this could hint at joining a team with the best chance of contending for the title.
On that note, the analyst factored in James Harden‘s upcoming contract discussions and added:
“He [Harden], from what I understand, is willing to partner with the Cavaliers to figure out a way to improve the roster. Jaylen Brown is out there. Can the Cavs make a move for Jaylen Brown and then come to LeBron and say, ‘How do you feel about us now?’ That’s the type of move you’ve got to do to get LeBron James’ attention.”
Windhorst’s observation about the Cavaliers‘ current situation seems reasonable. With James Harden willing to take a pay cut, Cleveland could enjoy much more flexibility with retooling its roster this offseason. Thus, when considering Windhorst’s suggestion, we explore how the Cavaliers could land both LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
Cavaliers Acquire Jaylen Brown In Blockbuster Deal
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics Receive: Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, 2031 first-round pick, 2033 first-round pick
The Cavaliers may have a difficult time formulating a trade package for Jaylen Brown, primarily because of his incoming $57.0 million cap hit. Given Cleveland’s current cap situation, taking on more salaries may not be feasible. However, with Harden willing to take a pay cut, the Cavs may enjoy some flexibility.
In this scenario, the Cavs would be sending out roughly $53.7 million in salaries from the combined contracts of Jarrett Allen ($28 million), Max Strus ($16.6 million), and Sam Merrill ($9.1 million).
Although such a package may not be enough to convince Boston to part with their superstar, given the Celtics’ need for a big man and the inclusion of two first-round picks in this deal, they may be more willing to negotiate.
For the Cavs, acquiring Jaylen Brown may be the first step to signing LeBron James, but it is also significant from a performance perspective. Last year, Brown asserted himself as one of the best players in the league. While finishing sixth in MVP voting, Brown was a factor on both ends of the floor while averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 47.7% shooting from the field.
As constructed, the Cavaliers already have capable scorers in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. But considering the impact this trade will have on their roster depth, acquiring a superstar who is accustomed to heavy minutes could be extremely valuable, both offensively and defensively.
The Path To Signing LeBron James Becomes Clearer
It goes without saying that Brian Windhorst’s suggestion rests on Cleveland successfully acquiring Jaylen Brown. Once this deal is done, the path to landing LeBron James becomes much clearer.
For the most part, the Cavaliers are in a relatively weak position when it comes to offering him a meaningful contract.
After acquiring Brown’s addition in this trade, the Cavs would have a total payroll of $184 million – $19 million over the cap. With the tax line set at $201 million, the Cavs would have only $17 million at their disposal before entering luxury tax territory. Hence, the negotiations with James Harden this summer will prove vital.
For the most part, it is unlikely that Harden would sign a new contract worth below $17 million in the first year. Given that he earned nearly $40 million last year, Harden is more likely to settle at $30-$35 million annually. This would see Cleveland go above the first apron.
While this is concerning, the Cavs would still have the taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal. Using this, Cleveland could sign James to a two-year deal worth up to $12 million (between $4-$6 million annually).
Because of his age, many would argue that James is only worth the minimum. But when considering his impact, along with last season’s averages of 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, it is safe to say that the 41-year-old brings a lot to the table.
Would The Cavaliers Become Contenders With These Moves?
With the acquisition of Jaylen Brown and the arrival of LeBron James in free agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers would undoubtedly be considered a superteam.
Although the departure of players such as Max Strus and Jarrett Allen would affect the team’s rotations, a starting lineup of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Evan Mobley is awe-inspiring, to say the least.
Given the structure of this lineup, the Cavaliers are more likely to embrace a small-ball philosophy. The luxury of having two elite playmakers in Harden and James would form the basis of the Cavs’ offense. With Mitchell’s scoring, Brown’s versatility, and Mobley’s ability to space the floor, Cleveland would have all the necessary tools to succeed.
While the starting five would be truly impressive, the lack of depth hinders this team’s potential as a true contender. Given that the Cavs would only be able to sign new players on minimum contracts to fill out the rest of their squad, there isn’t much optimism in the long run.
Overall, Windhorst’s suggestion is promising. However, from a conservative outlook, it is difficult to picture the Cavaliers emerging as contenders in the East after these moves.
