1. 76ers land LeBron James as things blow up in LA
The Lakers season has not gone as planned. They are 19-19 and clinging to tenth in the Western Conference on the morning of Jan. 10. LeBron James has been healthy. They won the In-Season Tournament, but their recent slide had the NBA’s all-time leading scorer offering some harsh criticism of his team.
If the Lakers fall further, does LeBron ask out? The 39-year-old is still at the top of his game and is eager to chase a championship. If it cannot happen in LA, Kings James could look elsewhere. Daryl Morey has chased him for years, and this package would certainly interest the Lakers if LeBron requests a trade.
Consider this extremely unlikely. James moved his family to LA and wants to be with them. The Lakers are more likely to upgrade their roster before the deadline, but crazier things have happened.
James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey could be a championship Big 3. There are health concerns, but the Sixers only have so many peak years of the reigning MVP. Going all-in on a 39-year-old co-star is risky. Philadelphia may have to take it if they want to win a championship.
Expect Daryl Morey and the front office to be active and aggressive before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. The Philadelphia 76ers have draft capital to trade and a desire to win it all. Stay tuned to see how it plays out.