Speculation about LeBron James signing with the Sixers is a tease, Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. The scribe opines that it’s more likely the superstar either signs with Los Angeles or, more likely, stays in Cleveland.
Ford writes that it would play well for the Ohio product to stay home after having already departed the city once in his career. What’s more, he adds that the King’s vision of the Sixers may be slightly different than what Philly sees. Technically speaking, much of the club’s future hinges on a big man with a troubling injury concerns and a rookie with holes in his game.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing that James looks elsewhere, however, it could be beneficial for the Sixers to build organically from within rather than inking a ringer to take them from The Process to The Endgame.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- After a year with the Raptors, it’s still difficult to gauge Serge Ibaka‘s value, Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes. The big man has established himself as a more imposing shooter but has been inconsistent so far in 2017/18.
- The Celtics understand that there will be situations where Greg Monroe can have a major impact on basketball games. The 265-pound big man recently seized an opportunity to impress his new teammates, A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston writes.
- In an in-depth feature profile, Eric Koreen of The Athletic breaks down the circumstances that brought Fred VanVleet to the Raptors as an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State. These days the 24-year-old is a vital piece of the club’s revered second-unit.
Lebron is staying just not playing with this same roster. He stays 100 percent if they draft Trae Young, it would be a win win situation. Trae can learn a couple things from Hill, specially defense. The NBA is going to make sure the Cavs get a top 3 pick.
top 3 and you’re gonna draft trae young?
Yes he is worth it.
Probably not
They might not need a top 3 pick, Trae is sliding down draft boards
The sixers have a different vision of themselves? Lol did no body watch last nights game? Lebron just got a first hand look at what he could be a part of in the form of a whoopin’
The Cavs shot 41% from the field and 28% from 3pt range. While I’m sure defense had some impact there, Philly mainly won because they barely shot better. Every other stat was basically dead even except for rebounding. Would hardly call that Philly “whoopin” the Cavs.
Might want to watch the game next time. With Embiid in the paint, not a lot of driving. Only driving on fast breaks of if they lured Embiid to the 3 line and even the he trailed and blocked Clarkson.
Philly is top 4 in defense in the 2nd half of the season
LBJ and Embiid looked very chummy last night. That alone does not make the Sixers a favourite to land the King, but he seems to consider chemistry as a need for success. If the Sixers landed him, they become the dominant force in the East, and with the youth, LBJ can extend his window for winning ‘Chips.
Anybody who watched that game last night knows that the Cavs are a good team but not a great team, outside of James. Its not easy to assemble a championship team right now, and when Kyrie left so did the Cavs chances of keeping James. He needs more rings, and he got a look at the future of the East with Embiid and Simmons. Period.
You would think if Lebron decides to leave again it would be Far away from Cleveland and not anywhere in the east coast(unless miami again)
Paul George is the better fit in Philadelphia. JJ Redick’s contract expires. PG13 slides right in there.
Getting LBJ, on the other hand, requires more moves to be made to get shooters. Neither Fultz nor Simmons shoots well enough to fit around LBJ. Takes the ball out of Ben Simmons’ hands. None of this is a problem if the Sixers get Paul George.
Player A:
18 PTS 7.7 TRB 7.3 AST 2.4 STL .53 FG% .22 3P%
Player B:
16.6 PTS 7.7 TRB 7.4 AST 1.8 STL .53 FG% .00 3P%
Player A is rookie season for Magic Johnson, Player B is Ben Simmons – only 10 3PT attempts tho vs 31 for Magic
What’s the hole in his game again?
He’ll start shooting right handed soon and everyone will notice a dramatic increase in his overall shooting %.
He’s just toying with everyone. Trying to be left handed (I used to do the same and at one stage was shooting better – 9/10ft vs 8/10 r)handed).
Then again, Westbrook is l)handed who shoots a natural r)hand shot.
The “plan” would be to retain the shooters they currently have – Marco, Ersan, and JJ (esp. on a much friendlier contract).
Then you add LBJ to this team. That gives you a Big-3 of Embiid, LBJ, and Simmons. Fultz is a big unknown at this point. However, he may be dealt in an off-the-cuff trade idea for a Mr. Kawhi Leonard on draft day along with their two 1st round picks. That would be the all-in move.
Fultz, Robert Covington, Both 1st Round Picks is the potential package for Kawhi.
You’d have Embiid – LBJ – Kawhi – Redick – Simmons vs ZaZa – Green – Durant – Thompson – Curry.
The Sixers currently have 2 first round picks, 1 a lottery pick that should in all likelihood convert (lakers pick). If they stand pat and don’t trade those picks you could see a Wendell Carter Jr, Mikal/Miles Bridges with that Lakers Pick. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Shake Milton with their own pick.
I believe that Lakers pick was traded to the celtics to move up and get fultz, only #1 overall protected. In an ideal situation, paul george and james both come here, and the starting 5 would be embiid, simmons, james, and hopefully fultz. Especially with simmons still on a rookie deal they will be able to afford it.
Lakers pick converts to the Celtics 2-5 currently projects as #10. The Kings pick in 2019 is also part of that deal only #1 protected. Which would be funny if it was the last lottery pick with the equal weighted chances starting in 2019 for #1. I don’t see PG13 and LBJ as some buddy buddy let’s go play together kind of guys. Maybe a playoff ru where the Thunder get destroyed will open his eyes to say “wow f playing in the West”. Yes ideally you give up Nothing and get 2 guys, but they can’t fit 70M under the cap. Kawhi is at 19M for 2019. You would need both to avg around 25M. Sixers are attractive to LBJ bc they can offer the max as well as make a move with assets and get whomever he wants to play w via trade.
Right now they have 70M in contracts for next year. They could free up space on draft day dealing Anderson 2.5M, Bayless 8.5 M. They have 4 2nd round picks. So it could take 3 or 4 of them to dump those two guys depending on trade partners. You’d think maybe an Atlanta-type team would take 2 picks plus Bayless which is an expiring contract they could use in a trade later on involving Bazemore whom they were looking to deal at the deadline. I do not see the Sixers going beyond 107 luxury tax line. So ~47M to play with. LBJ will take up 38.5 if offered Max.
If I had to, I would include the Thunder 2020 1st to dump Bayless.