What if LeBron James signed with the Rockets in 2018?

During the 2018 offseason, LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time in his career. Before announcing his move to Los Angeles, experts speculated for months where James would play next season. In fact, the Houston Rockets were considered frontrunners in the early stages of free agency.

With the core of Chris Paul, James’ close friend, and James Harden, the reigning league MVP, the foundation for a championship run was certainly laid out. So what if LeBron James signed with the Houston Rockets in 2018?

In order to find a plausible answer, the tool Basketball GM was used to replicate this scenario. James’ hypothetical move to Houston would cause a vast butterfly effect…