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Celtics fans are convinced LeBron James will leave Lakers for Boston

By Jason Reed

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics defends LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at TD Garden on January 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics defends LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at TD Garden on January 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James very well could be entering his last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has a player option after the 2023-24 season and has been very clear in the past about his intentions to play with his son, Bronny James. Bronny is eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft.

Bronny has not committed to the 2024 NBA Draft and it is hard to pinpoint where exactly he may end up. All signs point to him being a late first-round, early second-round prospect but when he comes with his dad, his value obviously increases.

For that reason, Bronny has become the most interesting non-top-pick in NBA Draft history. And even though there is still an entire NBA (and college) season left to play, some fanbases are already convinced that he will lure his dad to their favorite team.

This includes Boston Celtics fans, who are starting to lay the groundwork for LeBron to finish his career with the Lakers’ biggest rivals.

LeBron James leaving the Lakers for the Celtics is a very real possibility

As mentioned above, a lot can happen between now and the 2024 NBA Draft. But at the end of the day, the Celtics are in one of the best positions to lure LeBron away from the Lakers by using a backend first-round pick.

Boston has both its own and the Golden State Warriors’ first-round pick (top-four protected). That should give the team two picks in the 20s without having many roster needs to realistically fill. If there was ever a team that was in a position to take Bronny solely so LeBron would join, it is the Celtics.

And in LeBron’s eyes, the Celtics are one of the best teams from a basketball standpoint to take Bronny. He would have to take a pay cut (which will happen regardless) but he will get a chance to compete for a championship with his son. This is much better than spending a winter in Portland or Charlotte.

Boston is a team that does not even need LeBron to do much. The team could slot him into a similar role as Al Horford, playing him 20-25 minutes a game and then allowing him to go to work in the NBA Playoffs. LeBron may be in his 22nd season when Bronny comes into the league but he will still be very productive in that type of role.

As far as the Lakers go, the team may not even have a chance to stop this from happening. New Orleans has the right to either take the Lakers’ 2024 pick or have it roll over unprotected into 2025.

In theory, the Pelicans would be better off rolling that pick into a much better draft class in 2025, especially if the Lakers are picking in the 20s. But if the Pelicans really wanted to mess with the Lakers they could, which could open the door for LeBron James to retire a Celtic.