Boston Celtics: 5 dream targets during 2018 NBA free agency

1. LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers

Let’s be honest — any team that doesn’t have financial concerns is interested in signing LeBron James this offseason. He’s still the best player in the world right now, and figures to have at least a couple more seasons of elite production. So why wouldn’t the Celtics want him?

In this dream scenario where salary caps are nonexistent, James would have to be one of Boston’s top targets. Sure, they don’t have a desperate need for wing talent with Jayson Tatum enjoying an excellent rookie season and Gordon Hayward set to return in 2018-19. However, there’s no way a team (especially a contender) could pass on bringing the King aboard.

I think the best scenario would be to move James to the 4, replacing Marcus Morris in the starting five. Then, either Tatum or Jaylen Brown moves to the bench, with one of them starting while Hayward slides in as the 2. Seriously, that’s a deadly lineup.

Now there’s the one obvious concern — Irving moved away from the Cleveland Cavaliers to escape the shadow of James. How would he feel about the Celtics reuniting him with the player he so desperately wanted to get away from?

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Honestly, I don’t care. In this dream world, Irving’s feelings don’t matter. All that matters is creating the best possible starting five, and bringing James to Boston would do exactly that. The Celtics would be the hands-down favorite to win it all.