Windhorst Suggests LeBron James, Jaylen Brown Join Forces on This Team amid NBA Free Agency

ESPN's Brian Windhorst laid out a speculative idea of the Cleveland Cavaliers trading for Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown in order to help convince LeBron James to sign with the Cavs during NBA Today's Free Agency Special on Tuesday.

"The league changed this afternoon," Windhorst said, "with LeBron coming on the market, and not only that, but basically announcing that he's available to just about everybody.

"And so start your engines on how you're gonna retrofit. That is a curveball that affected the whole market. So now let's talk about Jaylen Brown. Jaylen Brown has not found a home. The Celtics have not found a home. After they tried to send him to Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo over the last week, they have talked to a number of other teams, 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? Do they show him their beautiful, brand new practice facility they're building? It is awesome. I saw it this week in Cleveland. That is not gonna impress him.

"What's going to impress him is what they do with their roster. So what can the Cavs do? James Harden opted out yesterday. He, from what I understand, is willing to partner with the Cavs to figure out a way how to improve the roster. Jaylen Brown is out there.

"Can the Cavs make a move for Jaylen Brown, then come to LeBron, and say, 'How do you feel about us now?' That's the type of move that you're gonna do to get LeBron James' attention."

James confirmed Tuesday that his eight-year tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers is complete.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Cavs, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are in the running for his services.

Meanwhile, the Celtics and Jaylen Brown, who would have gone to the Milwaukee Bucks alongside two first-round picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, appear headed for a split.

In theory, Windhorst's idea could work, giving the Cavs a dominant top four of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Brown and James.

However, Cleveland would obviously need to give up high-caliber players for someone like Brown, a five-time All-Star who just made his second All-NBA Second Team this season.

In that respect, ESPN's Bobby Marks, who was also on the Free Agency Special, said the Cavs would need to include big man Evan Mobley, the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year, in a trade to bring Brown back.

To be clear, Windhorst's idea was speculative, but we could certainly see some major moves shortly as free agency gets underway.