Free agency is far from over, and the Philadelphia 76ers are currently laser-focused on coming to an agreement with their most important free agent still on the board, but there is a slim chance thatn they could soon dip their fingers into something much more colossal.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, teams have started to inquire with the Lakers about the trade availability of LeBron James. This remains very unlikely at this juncture, but at this point, the odds of asking a trade out of Los Angeles definitely do not consist of resounding zeroes.
LeBron, who made a shocking decision to bypass free agency this time after exercising his player option, has basically given the Lakers an ultimatum to build a championship-caliber roster. So far, fans and pundits alike remain divided on their actual shot at being a title contender in the jampacked Western Conference, and if the push comes to shove, the megastar could very well exhaust all his options to get out of Hollywood.
If so, the 76ers remain one of the very few teams that make sense for him as a landing spot. And to make this hypothetical even sweeter, Philly also has the machinery to strike a deal with the Lakers for LeBron.
LeBron James trade possibility is becoming real for the 76ers
James, who previously acknowledged having seriously considered heading to the City of Brotherly Love in the summer of 2018 before going to Los Angeles, is undoubtedly nearing the end of his phenomenal career. However, he remains the lone individual to beat Father Times, still easily functioning as a top-10 to 15 players in the NBA at age 40.
Times have changed, but LeBron’s priority remains the same — to be in a position to win a championship. He currently has four under his belt, one shy of legends like Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, and for sure, he would be ecstatic at the chance of adding another one to his abundant collection of accolades.
It would be quite audacious to speak glowingly of the 76ers as a championship contender, but the franchise does have what it takes to make a deep playoff run as currently constructed with a cleaner bill of health.
Even better, James fills a position of need for the 76ers, and woudl theoretically be a seamless addition to a franchise already led by an elite center and point guard.
Depending on how much leverage they hold, if LeBron James does force his way out, the Lakers would most likely not fetch very lucrative offers. He has an expiring contract after all, and this is something the Philadelphia 76ers can take advantage of — assuming they are in bringing in arguably the greatest basketball player to ever live.