The Knicks’ championship run ended up mattering in a way nobody in New York probably saw coming: it helped clear the path for LeBron James to land with the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeBron’s camp had already reached out to Knicks brass this offseason, according to multiple reports, but New York never matched that interest. Even Jalen Brunson, the reigning Finals Most Valuable Player, did not try to recruit him. That fits with the bigger picture, because the Knicks had just won the title and were in no mood to chase a new headline.
Had New York lost to the Spurs in this year’s Finals, the whole thing could have played out differently. The 76ers might not have even been in the conversation for James if the Knicks had fallen short and entered the summer in a different place.
James had reportedly wanted to live in New York for a long time, to the point that he is rumored to have arranged a plan to live in the Big Apple even while playing for Philly next season and possibly beyond. It is not hard to understand why his camp was looking that way.
Knicks basketball already carries plenty of noise, and a championship only made the city look even more appealing as a place where he could chase another ring. And, of course, it is New York.
In that sense, the Knicks played a part in making LeBron available at all. If they had stumbled in the Finals, the bidding war for James might never have taken shape the way it did. Instead, they put together one of the most impressive playoff runs in recent memory and ended a title drought that had stretched for more than five decades.
For the 76ers, the timing lined up perfectly. Free agency always turns on factors no team can fully control, and this one broke their way without them realizing it until they landed the GOAT. Now the question shifts to whether their own championship drought is next to end.
In Other News...
76ers Just Flipped Another Offseason Assumption With Surprise Roster Call
Philadelphias offseason roster math has taken another turn, and this one points toward Jabari Walker sticking around longer than many around the league expected. The 76ers had a straightforward way to create room, but instead of treating Walkers non-fully guaranteed deal like the obvious odd man out, the front office appears to view him as a useful piece in the frontcourt mix.
Walkers contract still gives the team flexibility, with the guarantee date not arriving until January 10, but the decision-making here says plenty about how Philadelphia wants to shape the back end of the roster. After moving Johni Broome to clear space for additions such as LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Sixers seem more interested in keeping Walker in the fold as a depth option than reopening that spot again. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Facing An Awkward Roster Move They May Have To Overpay For
The Sixers are running into the kind of roster squeeze that tends to turn a simple summer plan into a messy transaction. Philadelphia reportedly wants to keep Jabari Walker for the 2026-2027 season, and the anticipated addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies means the front office has to make room somewhere on the roster.
Johni Broome has become the obvious name to move, but finding a taker may not be straightforward. Teams interested in absorbing his salary could ask for extra assets in return, which would force Philadelphia to decide how much it is willing to pay just to create the flexibility it needs. [Read more 🡒]
Bam Adebayo Reveals His Message After LeBron Passed On The Heat
Bam Adebayo had a measured reaction after LeBron James chose a different path this offseason, stressing support for James while keeping the focus on what comes next for Miami and the Eastern Conference. Adebayo also made clear he is looking forward to the season ahead, including the possibility of sharing a locker room with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a scenario he has already talked through with him before.
For the Heat, the bigger takeaway is less about disappointment and more about how quickly the landscape can shift around them. Adebayo said he is not discouraged by the decision and sees a fresh turnaround coming in the East, which leaves Miami in the familiar spot of having to answer the leagues biggest moves with its own. [Read more 🡒]