If LeBron James has a quick decision ahead of him, that could give the Philadelphia 76ers more time to sort through their options.
At this point, the Philadelphia 76ers — once the odds-on favorites to sign LeBron James — feel more like the third or fourth-most likely destination. That shouldn’t stop them from chasing the King, but it does complicate their summer.
The Sixers are still working to clear cap space for James, meaning they can’t make any significant moves until James decides where he wants to play. If that’s in Philly, the Sixers simply sign him and add league-minimum pieces to fill out the bench. If that’s elsewhere, the Sixers will need to act fast in order to sign other significant free agents.
Given the tight cap situation, the Sixers won’t be able to re-sign J.J. Redick unless LeBron goes to another city. If they keep their chair at the table until his decision day — which could be July 4th, according to Brian Windhorst — that would mean Redick is on the open market until James makes his decision.
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Redick has stated multiple times that he wants to stay in Philadelphia, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to sign for below market value. He might be willing to stay on another one-year deal, but waiting for LeBron to make a decision isn’t something every player wants to do.
That’s why LeBron’s potentially expedited decision could benefit the Sixers. Rather than waiting 10 days to have a clear understanding of their free agency plans, the front office can either sign LeBron or quickly jump into the open market to fill out the rest of their roster.
In turn, their chances of re-signing players like Redick and Marco Belinelli increase. It could also help them crack the discussion for names like Tyreke Evans and Will Barton, assuming the LeBron chase goes south.
Paul George might add another layer to the Sixers’ free agency plans, but as things currently stand, it feels more like a two-horse race for the L.A. native. He’s either going to the Lakers or staying in OKC, where he and Russell Westbrook have cultivated a strong relationship.
Next: Sixers don't need elaborate pitch for LeBron
The free agency moratorium opens on the first day of July.