The Philadelphia 76ers are still in a pressure-packed waiting game for the free agency decision of LeBron James, which could very well come out at any moment now. Fortunately for the franchise, it appears that they have little competition for the superstar, and they have the Wizards to thank for making life a tad easier for them.
How? Well, the Warriors have been pursuing a trade for Anthony Davis to bolster their bid for LeBron. However, the inclination of Washington's brass is to keep a competitive nucleus for the upcoming season, which makes the thought of acquiring the All-Star big man much easier said than done for Golden State's ambitious brain trust.
Shams Charania shared in a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show that the Warriors are, to his belief, lagging behind the 76ers, Cavaliers, and Heat in the LeBron bidding war. This only fortifies earlier reports that James' camp will only seriously entertain the Dubs as a landing spot if they get their hands on Davis, his former running mate with the Lakers. Unfortunately for them –– and luckily for Philly –– the Wizards do not seem predisposed toward giving them a hand with that.
The Wizards indirectly helped the 76ers in the LeBron James race
So far, Washington's moves this summer all point to them trying to win now. First, they signed Trae Young to a lucrative extension. Then, they got Khris Middleton back in the open market. In addition, they seem intent on keeping Davis, at least for now. If anything, the Wizards are likely looking to accelerate winning around AJ Dybantsa, the first overall pick in this year's draft.
In doing so, the Wizards basically prevented the Warriors from becoming an even bigger thorn in the 76ers side in their pursuit for James. Golden State has strong connections to LeBron, and securing Davis would make them a no-brainer option, given the thick air of familiarity coupled with the real chance to win his fifth ring with such a formidable nucleus.
Now, among all the teams still reported to be in the running for James, the 76ers arguably present the most compelling case for the championship next season. That is essentially their main pitch for the superstar, and only time will tell if that will suffice as they aim to be the megastar's possibly final home in the NBA.
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