As the LeBron James sweepstakes keep rolling, the Philadelphia 76ers have been floated as one of the teams still in the mix. The logic is easy enough to follow: after trading for Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia suddenly looks like a roster with serious talent at every spot, and that kind of depth keeps them in the conversation.
A group built around Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, and Joel Embiid already has plenty of firepower. Add James, and the ceiling rises even higher.
But there’s a catch. According to NBA reporter Scoop B, the fit between James and Embiid on the floor may not be as clean as it sounds.
The issue isn’t that the two stars don’t respect each other’s games. It’s that they bring different styles, and those styles could end up rubbing against each other. On top of that, there are rumblings that James is skeptical about Embiid’s health, which puts Philadelphia in a spot where it has to at least think through the possibilities.
That’s where Scoop B’s trade idea comes in: move Embiid for Anthony Davis.
“Embiid’s lengthy injury ledger is historically more severe than Anthony Davis’, making it tough to argue that Philly is losing out on long-term durability,” Scoop B wrote. “While it doesn’t clear maximum financial breathing room, it immediately pairs LeBron with his most trusted, championship-proven running mate.
“A defensive-minded powerhouse frontcourt of LeBron and AD, alongside a core featuring Maxey, Edgecombe, Wade, and Brown, would instantly catapult Philadelphia into undisputed title favoritism in the East right alongside New York and Miami.”
It’s a fascinating concept, even if it feels like the kind of move the 76ers probably wouldn’t seriously entertain. And if James really does have doubts about Embiid’s health, the same concern could easily follow Davis.
There’s also the simple reality of the timeline. Philadelphia is not likely to trade Embiid for what could amount to one season of James, especially with next season possibly being his last in the league.
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