The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers are lucky to not have signed LeBron James

By Michael Bronson

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 14: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors on March 14, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 14: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors on March 14, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the Los Angeles Lakers a near lock to miss the playoffs, should LeBron James be regretting his decision to go there instead of Philadelphia and are the 76ers better off without him?

The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2018 offseason with an All-Star starter in Joel Embiid and Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons. The hope was that these two great players under the age of 25 would be enough to convince LeBron James to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and ignore the media induced glamour that the Los Angeles Lakers carried. James ultimately chose the Lakers despite them only winning 35 games last season and failing to make the playoffs for five years in a row.

"‘”You look at the Lakers,…Being able to play for a historic franchise with so much history, and now being able to partner with Magic Johnson, someone I kinda like looked up to when I was younger and wanted to make no look passes like Magic, wanted to get on the break and be Showtime like Magic and then for it to all come to fruition at this point…”‘"

The above LeBron James quote was his first public comments after signing with the Lakers and it seems likely that his positive feelings about playing for the Magic Johnson lead Lakers is now a part of history. The Ringer’s Dan Devine wrote an article detailing ways James slowing down is hurting the Lakers and USA Today’s Nate Scott argued that James is no longer the NBA’s version of a superhero.

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Neither of these articles make the case that James is washed up, but it’s clear that the Philadelphia 76ers dodged a bullet when James rejected their 52-30 team that made It to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. He instead went to a Lakers’ team that are now 31-39 and are destined to miss the playoffs for the sixth year in a row.

No one would’ve imagined that the Sixers would be able to replace the 27.5 points, 8.0 assists, and 8.5 rebounds per game James is averaging for the Lakers this season. However, with Jimmy Butler’s 18.7 points, 4.0 assists, and 5.2 rebounds, and Tobias Harris’s 19.3 points, 2.8 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game that both players have averaged since joining the Sixers has helped offset missing out on James.

Despite both players being unrestricted free agents after this season, Butler is five years younger than James and Harris is eight years younger which makes them better long term options.

Next. Sixers clinch second straight playoff berth. dark

With the realistic possibility that Kevin Durant leaves the Golden State Warriors this offseason, not having James’ four-year $153.3 million contract on the books could allow the Philadelphia 76ers to be championship favorites entering the 2019-20 season.