It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the more aggressive franchises when it comes to pursuing marquee players in recent years. They did manage to snag the likes of James Harden and Jimmy Butler for short stints to pair with their centerpiece in the reigning league MVP Joel Embiid.
With Daryl Morey still the captain of the ship, don’t expect that script to flip anytime soon. Next year will see Philly open up substantial cap space that should be enough to entice a high-level player to join their ranks, and certainly, some pundits are expecting the 76ers to capitalize on their spending power in 2024.
Analyst expects the 76ers to go after LeBron James next year
LeBron James will have a player option following the conclusion of the upcoming season, just in time for the expected NBA arrival of his son, Bronny James. So while he can technically stay in Los Angeles, there’s also a strong impetus for the longtime superstar to skip town as he starts to add the finishing touches to his legendary career.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor bared in the latest episode of The Mismatch podcast that the 76ers make a lot of sense as a potential destination for the King’s final hurrah in the league.
"If its the big fish I think (Daryl) Morey’s target next summer will be LeBron James. It just makes sense logically, Chris, right? Who else would it be?"
True enough, Daryl Morey plays the big game and is known for his acuity in attracting elite talent. The 76ers also have the ability to still offer James superstar money which many teams won’t have.
That, and the prospect of playing with Embiid, could help Philadelphia endorse itself to James, which will definitely have a ton of suitors, especially with the fate of his son — whom he wants to play with — in next year’s draft still up in the air.
It must also be noted that Philadelphia was one of LeBron’s preferred destinations in the summer of 2018 before he signed with the Lakers.