Even after trading for Jaylen Brown and starting free agency with a bang in light of their heady signings thus far, the Philadelphia 76ers remain committed to maximizing their chances to be able to mount a real championship bid next season. That is precisely the reason why they are considered part of the inner loop of real contenders to snag LeBron James off the open market this summer.
Having said that, it sure seems like the 76ers should not count on that possibility actually transpiring too much. As reported by NBA insider Marc Stein, the growing sentiment around the league is that the most likely scenario for the King is a return to Cleveland to reunite with the Cavaliers, the team which drafted him back in 2003.
James is projected to be in the final year of his legendary career, so returning to his roots with the franchise where he started his illustrious tale makes a ton of sense for him and his camp, at least narratively. The 76ers do have some edges of their own over their competitors, but that scenario in favor of the Cavs is simply going to be hard to beat.
The 76ers will probably not take this latest LeBron James rumor well
Cleveland admittedly offers James with the most poetic way to end his career. After all, he was the man which led them to their first and only championship back in 2016 when they famously came back from a 3-1 deficit to take down the 73-win Warriors. The times have changed and the Cavaliers are entirely different now from top to bottom, but it remains the same franchise which LeBron is all too familiar with.
Now, the 76ers project to have a stronger shot to win the title than the Cavs, but that is far from a guarantee. After all, Cleveland has been a powerhouse in the East in recent years, which also constitutes a separate charm of its own as it positions itself in the LeBron sweepstakes.
In fact, the Cavs are now the betting favorites to land James in the open market. The 76ers are not even second in that list with the Warriors still lurking around. It appears that Philly's LeBron dream will have a rather steep climb to reality.
The Philadelphia 76ers are still in the running for LeBron James, but the truth of the matter is that his former ball clubs have a certain edge which cannot just be manufactured. Hopefully, though, the superstar will prioritize playing for a new franchise while remaining on the hunt for his fifth ring.
Add us as a preferred source on Google