After an early playoff exit this year, the possibility of LeBron James bolting the Los Angeles Lakers is getting stronger by the day. And while a lot of NBA teams would look better having the King, there’s a good reason why the Philadelphia 76ers makes sense to sign the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
During the previous playoffs, the Lakers surprised everyone when they went all the way to the Western Conference Finals as a Play-In team. Even if Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets swept them in four games, the team’s promising run was enough to generate buzz for the following season.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen at all. Even with a healthy duo of James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers still finished the regular season in eighth place with a record of 47 wins and 35 losses. And like the year before, they were eliminated again by the Nuggets in the first round.
The Lakers’ frustrating finish may serve as the catalyst for James’ departure since he holds a player option for the upcoming season. This development has placed a lot of NBA teams on notice due to the possibility of getting one of the greatest players in league history in the offseason.
Main Reason Why LeBron James Playing For Philadelphia 76ers Next Season Makes Sense
Adding James to any team is easy because of his universal skill set and a wealth of experience he can use on the court. According to an article Kevin Pelton wrote for ESPN, the 76ers are the best landing spot for the four-time champion next season.
“If he reaches that conclusion, he could do far worse than the Sixers, who not only have a boatload of cap space (they could offer James a max of three years for $157 million) but also Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP, and 23-year-old speedster Tyrese Maxey, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the 76ers can match any offer made to him,” Pelton wrote.
Apart from getting a contract that matches his value and experience in the league, the Sixers also have the chance to draft Bronny to the team. This will give James a talented cast to work with, a big bag of money for the final phase of his career, and having his son beside him as the fulfillment of a declaration he made years ago.
It remains to be seen whether James will end up playing with one-time MVP Joel Embiid or not next season. What’s certain, though, is that all eyes will be on him in the coming months to see where he actually signs up.
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