The Portland Trail Blazers had expressed interest in acquiring former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. Ultimately, the analytics showed it wasn't in their best interest -- a decision that looks even worse now that LeBron James has joined the Philadelphia 76ers.
While Portland wasn't realistically going to land James regardless of whether they acquired Brown, it does raise a point about the human element of potential follow-up moves that aren't accounted for in these analytics.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday that James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia, which includes a player option. He also adds that the 76ers weren't on James' radar to this extent until they managed to steal Brown from the Boston Celtics.
LeBron James' 76ers decision makes it clearer Portland should've traded for Jaylen Brown
Philadelphia came away with Brown for a package consisting of Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. At the time of the deal, we said it was a low price that Portland absolutely should've been willing to trade. The fact that this Brown blockbuster deal ultimately led to James signing for just $8 million over two years makes that even more apparent.
It's not a perfect comparison, as the small market and unfair perception typically surrounding Portland makes it difficult to attract these superstar names like James. Still, the Blazers aren't making it any easier on themselves by playing it so conservatively. If it wasn't James, it could've been someone else.
The point is, you never know what a talented roster attracts, and this situation in Philadelphia is a prime example of that.
They didn't acquire Brown with hopes that it would lead to signing James for cheap and having one of the best starting units in the league. They traded for Brown because it was a chance to upgrade their roster and go from there.
To a certain extent, Portland did follow a similar blueprint with Ja Morant. At least he's a star name. But look at how little they had to give up to land Morant, and it's clear he was viewed as a negative asset around the league.
That's not the type of blockbuster move that changes Portland's position within the Western Conference. Most importantly, it's not the type of move to get other players' attention and make them want to be part of what the Blazers are building.
Given how messy this roster currently is, with a team full of point guards and centers, why would players want to join what is clearly a work in progress?
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