LeBron James is headed for free agency again in the summer of 2018, and executives around the NBA believe that the Sixers and president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo will make a play for the four-time MVP, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
As Zillgitt lays out, James and young Philadelphia star Ben Simmons share an agent in Rich Paul of Klutch Sports; LeBron has spoken highly of Sixers head coach Brett Brown; and the 76ers figure to be one of the few teams in the NBA that have a clear path to creating a maximum-salary slot. Those factors – along with the presence of standout center Joel Embiid, versatile swingman Robert Covington, and 2017’s first overall pick Markelle Fultz – should allow the Sixers to craft a compelling pitch.
[RELATED: 2018 Salary Cap Outlook: Atlantic Division]
While it’s never too early to start speculating about the next career move for one of the best players in NBA history, James has revealed next to nothing about his 2018 plans so far. The 32-year-old has publicly said he’s happy with the Cavaliers and has talked about finishing his career in Cleveland, but hasn’t committed long-term to the franchise, fueling speculation that he’ll head elsewhere.
The Lakers have been frequently mentioned as a possible landing spot for James, but the team still has work to do if it wants to open up two maximum-salary slots to land LeBron and another star. Other possible suitors like the Rockets and Spurs would face salary-cap roadblocks if they attempt to sign James. That could open the door for a club like the Sixers, since Philadelphia is further along in its rebuild than L.A. and has the kind of cap flexibility that’s rare among contenders.
With more than seven months to go until James can become a free agent, plenty can change between now and then. However, as Zillgitt writes, if the future Hall-of-Famer takes meetings with teams when he reaches free agency next July, it would make sense for him to consider the Sixers.
LeBron has spoken highly of Sixers head coach Brett Brown;
Oh good heavens. SMH
I would have rather traded Ben Simmons for Kyrie Irving.
Also, I am not interested in seeing the King going to Philadelphia….Let him go somewhere else
Speaking of going somewhere else, I would like to see Brett Brown go somewhere else!!!!
Haha say no to drugs
Say no to the drugs this guy is on at leat lol
Lefty you just made the dumbest post I’ve ever seen. Brown is a great coach and Philly is on its way to becoming a good team and Ben Simmons isn’t as good as Skyrim yet but could be scarier in the future. Kyrie is in his prime Ben is significantly younger.
6ers could add a superstar and have the new age big 3 and run the league in a couple years
Add porzingis or giannes too Simmons and embiid and that’s a big 3 all 6’10 and taller
Settle down.
We’re talking 2 offseasons down the road. Enough time to see who really pans out among Simmons, Embiid, Fultz, TLC, and even Korkmaz.
They aren’t signing anyone significant this offseason, it’s just Boogie and IT4.
Ideally, Lakers pick is #1 or #6 overall. Bulls are in full tank, so it’s #6 or worse. And as a Sixer you’re just hoping, Michael Porter JR declares and falls to you. Or you take Bamba as Embiid insurance. I’ve always viewed Okafor as cheap Embiid insurance, but the Sixers brass is absurdly dumb when it comes to their big men. (Like Amir is good at rebounding, but in 15.1 minutes you could give to Okafor he’d at least showcase himself for a trade).
And in 2019 you full-court press to land either Klay or LBJ. At that point you’re hoping you’re team is:
PG – Fultz
SG – RoCo
SF – LBJ
PF – Simmons
C – Embiid
Naw man, Lebron will opt out this offseason. It makes the most sense whether he stays in or leaves Cleveland no point risking a career ender with one year to go.
maybe maybe not just soeculation
If the sixers keep doing what they are now, they aren’t going to get a high pick. Unless of course some team dumb enough trades anhigh pick (Cleveland) for Okafor.
Lakers pick is 2-5 to the celtics.
Lol really we will trade you the Nets pick for a scrub who can’t even get off the bench for a team that cant make it out of the 1st round of the P.O. if they even make it..
There is a reason why a small market team like Cleveland is a Finals team year after year, they don’t make stupid trades and have a owner who doesn’t care about the team as a money machine and will use what it does make to bring in players who are good enough to make it off the bench.
You have your teams mixed up and it is the 76ers who draft hurt players hoping they heal up and make stupid trades like the Noel trade.
Z-A if you aren’t listing Simmons as a pg then you really know nothing about this team. Also LBJ will be a UFA in 2018
James has a player option in 2018 which he will probably not take. His last chance to sign a 5yr-type max deal is with Cleveland, however much that matters.
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There seems to be a lot of confidence that Fultz will turn out as well as Simmons & Embiid… I think too much. Simmons & McDonnell should run the show, and Fultz does not shoot like a 2 should.
With Fultz and LBJ he’s a point forward. You’ll have fultz d up the opposing point guard. Today in the current line up call him a point guard, change the dynamics of it and he’d a point forward. not a hard concept to grasp…