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When Jaylen Brown hit the trade block, it looked as though NBA fans would finally get to see what he would look like as a team's full-time No. 1 option.
For all of the criticism he's received, Brown played well in the lead role when Jayson Tatum missed the majority of this past season, putting up career-best numbers and leading the Celtics into contention for the top seed in the East.
Brown's dream of being a No. 1 option became tenuous at best when he was traded to the 76ers, and Friday's arrival of LeBron James made his role even more uncertain as Philadelphia tries to assemble a legitimate championship contender.
Here's what you need to know about Brown's role with the 76ers after the James signing.
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Who is 76ers' No. 1 option?
It wasn't long ago that the 76ers were Joel Embiid's team, at least when he was healthy. Do the Sixers have a No. 1 option now? Here's the outlook for each of their top four players.
Tyrese Maxey
Embiid is still a terrific player when at his best, but with his availability perhaps permanently limited, Tyrese Maxey appears to be the go-to option in Philadelphia.
Maxey has steadily improved with the Sixers, averaging 28.3 points and 6.6 assists per game last season while shooting more efficiently than he had in three years. The former Kentucky guard has averaged more than 20 shot attempts per game in each of the last three seasons, with Embiid doing so only once in that span.
As the floor general and a proven scorer, Maxey is likely as close to a No. 1 option as the 76ers are going to have next season.
Joel Embiid
Embiid remains a bit of a mystery at this point in his career. The former MVP has only played 96 games since winning the award three years ago, and he isn't someone the 76ers can expect to play 60 or more games in a given season.
When he first returned last season, Embiid didn't look quite the same as he once did. That didn't come as a major surprise after all he's been through physically, but Embiid actually did look like an All-NBA talent at times once he settled in, averaging more than 30 points per game over the back half of his 38 games last season.
The additions of Brown and James should take some of the pressure off Embiid offensively, so this could be a new phase for the big man as the 76ers try to manage his health and keep him fresh for a deep playoff run.
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Jaylen Brown
The 76ers undoubtedly have big plans for Brown, but he's unlikely to be a No. 1 option with the talent he has around him in Philadelphia. After averaging 28.7 points per game with Tatum out for most of this past season, Brown will more than likely drop into the low-20s again playing alongside Maxey, Embiid and James.
It isn't realistic to expect the four to share the floor for most of the season, with Embiid's injury history and James' age both concerns, so there will still be plenty of nights in which the Sixers count on Brown to shoulder some of the load.
LeBron James
James isn't in Philadelphia to be a No. 1 option. After taking a step back as a scorer behind Luka Doncic and even Austin Reaves at times last season, James admitted he had to adjust but signaled by signing with the 76ers that he is willing to do what it takes to win.
Does that mean James is the 76ers' fourth option? It's not out of the question, as he can impact the game as a rebounder and passer with this talent around him. However, as was the case in L.A., injuries around James could force him into a larger role on some nights. If the 76ers keep him fresh, he will be ready for it.
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Why did the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown?
When Brown's name surfaced in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, the burning question was whether they would affect Brown's relationship with the Celtics and whether he would be comfortable playing for a Bucks team that wouldn't be among the East's best.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Brown would have welcomed a trade to Milwaukee because he would have been the No. 1 option.
"From what I understand, Jaylen Brown is accepting this and realizes this is a chance to turn the page in his career and that he may be getting his own team, which is something that he has thought about for some time," Windhorst reported shortly before the Bucks traded Antetokounmpo to the Heat.
The Celtics didn't simply trade Brown to appease him, though. Celtics president Brad Stevens told reporters he believed the Celtics' path was "a little bit more challenging" in the years ahead with so much of their salary cap space taken up by Tatum and Brown.
"I might be wrong. I'm not going to stand up here and be defensive about that, but the path looked a little bit more challenging, with 70% of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players," Stevens said.
After an early playoff exit, the Celtics decided to give both themselves and Brown a fresh start. Brown may not be a No. 1 option, but the chance to play with James and compete for a championship likely supersedes any feelings he might have about his role.
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