After the Philadelphia Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown, the odds that LeBron James would choose them as his next team increased by a million. Okay, maybe not that much, but Rich Paul did emphasize the importance of that deal and what it meant for their chances of landing the superstar. And now, they could look even better if what Brian Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland is true.
"I'm hearing stuff in other cities too. I'm not gonna say who but I had somebody on the phone with me today that I consider a good source who was swearing it's a done deal in another city," - @WindhorstESPN on the latest LeBron rumors 😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/4uHgOsAC86
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 10, 2026
ESPN's Shams Charania said earlier this week that Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia appeared to be in the lead for James. That news alone was huge for the Sixers, considering LeBron doesn't have the history with them that he does with the Cavaliers and Heat, yet they were still reportedly right up there with them.
Bob Myers was recently a guest on the "Game Over" podcast with Paul and Max Kellerman, saying that if LeBron were there, he'd tell him that joining Philadelphia would give him the best shot at winning. Even non-Sixers fans should be able to see the allure.
Still, it seemed like Philly was facing an uphill battle against Cleveland specifically, as LeBron went on a special 10th anniversary trip with some members of the Cavaliers' 2016 title team and spent time in Northeast Ohio this summer.
If what Windhorst heard is true, and it's worth highlighting that it might not be, it's hard not to wonder if James has a deal in place with Philadelphia. Or if it isn't Cleveland-or-bust for him, giving the Sixers an added advantage.
LeBron signing with Sixers would be a dream
Philadelphia already won the offseason by turning Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks into Jaylen Brown. It wasn't that the Sixers couldn't trade PG13, but certainly not in a package for the 2024 Finals MVP without giving up another key player. That move was, and still is, hard to process.
It will reach a whole new level if it ends up being a deciding factor in LeBron's decision to join the Sixers. It's not as much about money for him anymore as it is about his happiness, as Paul has stated, so it'd make sense for him to call Philadelphia his next home.
Imagine seeing LeBron take the floor next season in Philly alongside Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. It would make the process worth it, making the Sixers one of the top teams not just in the East, but in the league.
Time will tell who James officially signs with, but hey, it very well could be Philly.
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