The Sixers have entered the LeBron James conversation.
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Philadelphia has reached out to let James’ camp know it wants in on the sweepstakes for the star forward. The 41-year-old has been tied most often to Golden State, Cleveland and Miami since he told the Lakers he would not be back this offseason, but his camp has been open to hearing from anyone interested. Rich Paul said he heard from nearly half the league on the first night of free agency, and Jones reported that Minnesota and Denver are among the teams that have also made their interest known.
Philadelphia’s case may look a lot stronger now than it did earlier in the day. The Sixers have reportedly agreed to send Paul George and a package of draft picks to Boston for All-NBA second-teamer Jaylen Brown, a move that would put Brown alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Rookie of the Year finalist VJ Edgecombe in Philadelphia.
The roster picture still isn’t exactly wide open from a financial standpoint. The Sixers are about $9.6MM below their first-apron hard cap, according to Yossi Gozlan’s data at CapSheets.com, and would have around $6MM of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception left to offer a free agent if they sign Hukporti using the bi-annual exception.
Even with that limited flexibility, the money may matter less than the fit. Recent reporting has made clear that James is expected to put “happiness” and a real chance to chase a title ahead of chasing the biggest payday.
On NBA TV on Wednesday, NBA insider Chris Haynes said he expects James to handle free agency in a “patient” and “deliberate” way.
In Other News...
Celtics Already Linked To Another Major Move After Jaylen Brown Trade
Bostons decision to move Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and multiple future draft picks already reshaped the conversation around both teams, but the Celtics may not be done making noise. With a fresh haul of assets in hand, Boston is being linked to another possible swing, and the name getting mentioned is Trey Murphy III, a forward who spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and has become one of the more intriguing players on the market.
Murphys appeal is easy to see for a team that just changed its core: he brings size, versatility and the kind of two-way profile that fits almost any contenders wish list. Philadelphia will obviously be watching how Boston uses the rest of its war chest, because if the Celtics do make a run at Murphy, it would be another sign that Browns departure was just the beginning of a much bigger reshaping in the East. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Just Pulled Off Another Backcourt Coup After Jaylen Brown
After the blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers kept working the backcourt market and landed another name that had drawn plenty of attention. Guard Anfernee Simons is set to join Philadelphia on a two-year deal worth $12.3 million, adding another scoring option to a roster that has already been reshaped in a busy stretch of moves.
The appeal is easy to see for a team trying to balance star power with usable depth. Simons brings the kind of bench scoring and perimeter shot-making that can change a second units look, and the fact that other teams were in the mix made this another notable win for Philadelphia as it continues to build out the guard rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Sixers Moved Fast On Anfernee Simons After Brown Trade
After the June 1 deal that sent Paul George and multiple draft picks to Boston for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers did not wait long to start reshaping the rest of the roster. The next move came in free agency, when Philadelphia brought in guard Anfernee Simons on a two-year contract with a player option in the second season, a quick add aimed at giving the revamped group another perimeter scorer and some needed backcourt punch.
Simons had other options, but Philadelphia moved decisively to close the deal and keep its momentum going after the Brown trade. From the Sixers side, the appeal was clear: a younger guard who can help with scoring depth right away and fit into a lineup that still needed more production behind its top names. [Read more 🡒]