The dominoes are falling quick.Ja Morant is headed to the Portland Trail Blazers, and Kawhi Leonard will return to the Toronto Raptors.
Both franchise players were traded below their perceived value, being plagued by off court issues. Morant was particularly surprising, with the low interest from most teams, even motivated teams like the Miami Heat. Eventually, Morant ended up in Portland where he will be mentored by Blazers guards like Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday.
Kawhi Leonard still commanded value, as the Raptors gave him a second chance. However, reports say Kawhi is now ready to sign an extension with the North.
The Decision 2026: Happiness
It’s been sixteen years since The Decision. Now, LeBron James has won four championships in three different cities, and he has scored more NBA points than anyone who ever held a basketball. The idea of chasing Michael Jordan and cementing his legacy as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) has become secondary.
LeBron is now a mogul, and nearly a billionaire based on his multiple income streams. So his motivation for Year 23 is “happiness.” But what does this mean? How does LeBron define happiness at this point in his career?
That sound you hear is the collective sigh of relief of teams salivating for the King’s services, hoping he would choose their team for a possible title run. However, this is not the desperate, ring-less upstart from 2010. It’s not as simple as title chances. If it were, he could just join the San Antonio Spurs and pair with Victor Wembanyama.
Happiness is broad, and it also factors in his family. LeBron fully calls the shots, and he can work with his chosen team to build a strong team, since he will not demand an astronomical contract.
The easy answer is Cleveland because it’s home. Does that still matter? The Cavs are playing it cool, but with James Harden opting out, one can’t help but speculate that it’s a precursor for a King play. The Miami Heat now has a frontline tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. But he is likely to choose a new team altogether.
A bond was formed in the 2024 Paris Olympics between Steph Curry, LeBron James, Anthony Davis,and even Kevin Durant. There are already talks on how at least three of them can collaborate. Whether that team will be a contender is still uncertain, but it will be a sentimental favorite.
Imagine the two most influential basketball players, bitter rivals for more than a decade, choosing to join forces to end their career together. That’s a storybook ending regardless of the result, and could fit the “happiness” that James is looking for.
Second Banana Takes the Wheel
Jaylen Brown is not just underrated, he is outright disrespected.
It can never be overstated. Jayson Tatum hardly succeeded without Jaylen Brown, but last season, Brown dragged the Celtics to 56 wins while Tatum was recovering.
Brown is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and somehow, he has not been given the keys to the city. It was not even considered! Every time the Celtics are linked to a superstar trade, it’s automatic that it’s Brown, never Tatum.
Last season was Brown’s peak, and the idea that he was still dangled as the bait, without any hesitation, is the last straw. The fact that Milwaukee chose the Miami Heat package with Tyler Herro was another slap in the face.
It boggles the mind why there isn't a line of suitors for Brown. He will play with a chip on his shoulder, with the proven talent to back it up.
The Portland Trailblazers make the most sense, especially after the Ja Morant trade. Since they kept their young assets even after acquiring Morant, they still have enough to entice the Boston Celtics.
The Blazers are stacked at every position, and aside from Deni Avdija, who they rendered untouchable, they have Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, as guards. Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan can help the Celtics frontcourt.
A Brown-Morant pair is intriguing in the present, and can still be an investment for the future. .
