The Warriors reportedly passed on a Jaylen Brown trade that would have required them to surrender around four first-round picks.

The Golden State Warriors’ decision not to pursue Jaylen Brown might have cost them a chance to land LeBron James in free agency.


Jaylen Brown

Position
SG, SF

Age
29

Height
198 cm

Weight
101 kg

Birth place
Georgia, United States of America

According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the Warriors decided not to enter the Brown sweepstakes despite holding discussions with the Boston Celtics about a potential trade that would have cost Golden State around four first-round picks.

“The Warriors could’ve gotten into the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up around four first-round picks. They decided not to, from my understanding,” Charania said on The Stephen A. Smith Show.

“The two teams, the Warriors and Celtics, did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline, and it involved several first-round draft picks, potential swaps and second-round picks. The Warriors decided not to go down that route, and so that’s on them.”

“That’s the decision they made. If they had gone out and gotten that done, does that make LeBron James more viable? If the Warriors had been willing to give up significant draft capital to acquire Anthony Davis from Washington, does LeBron James follow suit?”

“My understanding was that if the Warriors had been able to get Anthony Davis, they would have had as good a chance as anyone, if not a better one, to land LeBron James. I think you have to look at that in the calculus of everything.”

LeBron begins final chapter in Philadelphia

James ultimately ended his eight-season Lakers tenure and signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of his record-extending 24th NBA season.

The 41-year-old described the move as his “last decision,” choosing Philadelphia because he believed the team offered him an opportunity to compete for a fifth championship.

The move places him alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe, giving Philadelphia one of the NBA’s most talented groups.

The 76ers acquired Brown from the Boston Celtics earlier this offseason, adding the five-time All-Star to a core already led by Embiid and Maxey.

James’ playmaking could reduce the offensive burden on Philadelphia’s other stars, while Brown and Maxey would provide athleticism and scoring around him.

James left Los Angeles after delivering the franchise’s 2020 championship and averaging 25.9 points, 7.9 assists and 7.7 rebounds across 479 regular-season appearances in a Lakers uniform.

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