Every NBA team with a strong link to LeBron James this offseason still believes they have a chance to land the 41-year-old superstar. The Philadelphia 76ers continue to make their presence felt in the former Los Angeles Lakers forward's market.
On Monday, July 13, it was reported that the Golden State Warriors view the Cleveland Cavaliers as the favorites to land him. If you ask the Sixers' President of Basketball Operations, Mike Gansey, the favorites don't matter.
As long as the Sixers are in the game, they have a chance to win.
"There has been speculation for different teams, but we’d obviously love to have LeBron," Gansey told The Athletic on July 13.
"I respect the heck out of him. In my opinion, he’s the best player of all time. I think his decision is dragging out because he has a lot of good options and he wants to figure it out. He would obviously add a lot to our team. But at the end of the day, I know he’s going to make the right decision for him and his family.”
The 76ers are playing their cards right in the LeBron James sweepstakes
The Philadelphia 76ers aren't taking a "too cool" approach when it comes to LeBron. The praise from Gansey is clear. The roster spot is being left open for him, and the front office leader is being as honest as possible about their interest, using all channels to make it painfully obvious that they want him here.
Bob Myers, Gansey's new mentor, went on Rich Paul's podcast to make a literal public pitch. Gansey hints that he's having consistent communication with Paul, and reminds everybody that he worked closely with LeBron once before.
“Those years I had with him in Cleveland were incredible,” Gansey told The Athletic. Before becoming the 76ers' President of Basketball Ops, Gansey worked in the Cavaliers' front office.
So, the Sixers don't have 11 years of past experience with LeBron like the Cavs. Or four years of experience with him like the Heat. The Golden State Warriors never employed the Hall of Famer, but their location in California is a much easier move than all of the others involved.
But there is enough familiarity with Gansey, and apparent fandom in Tyrese Maxey and the cast around him to continue to make it clear that the Sixers have a real shot to land LeBron James.
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