3 Reasons Why The 76ers Should Sign LeBron James

According to ESPN, seven-year veteran Dean Wade would be the starting power forward for Philadelphia right now. Wade is a solid player who can play that stretch four position, but ideally, he should be a backup. The former Cleveland Cavalier averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in just over 22 minutes per game last season, which is fine for a rotation player, but not really for a starter. With that in mind, James makes perfect sense for the 76ers, filling a void in the frontcourt and moving Wade to a better-suited role.

2) Philly Would Have Five Guys Who Can Take Over

If LeBron joins this roster, Philly would have five starters who can get their own bucket if need be. That includes last year’s third-overall pick, VJ Edgecombe, who scored 30 or more three times in his rookie campaign. The others, of course, are Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Brown, who all averaged near 30 points a game in 2025-26. Those scoring numbers will surely decline a bit with so many mouths to feed, but the ultimate goal is a title, so the players should be on board.

Having multiple players who can handle the scoring load is crucial, especially in a playoff series. Adding James to this 76ers squad would take the pressure off others to handle the scoring and playmaking every night.

3) Potential Load Management For Joel Embiid

It is no secret that former MVP Joel Embiid has been injury-prone throughout his 12-year career in Philadelphia. There have been ten 82-game seasons since Embiid entered the league (two were not due to COVID), and he has played 65-plus games just twice. That includes missing his first two seasons completely, and playing in only 96 of a possible 246 over the last three.

It may be time for the 76ers to explore a different process with the man known as The Process. If Embiid is only going to appear in around 60 games at best, 20 or so of those need to be in the postseason. That means Philly may need to manage both his minutes and games throughout the entire regular season. In a world where the 76ers add James to a roster with Brown, Maxey, and Edgecombe, that is probably a top-three seed without Embiid. There, Embiid could theoretically play 20-25 minutes per game and literally half the season.

That may not be the most popular approach leaguewide, but Philadelphia should do whatever it takes to have Embiid on the court when it matters most. It is doubtful that the 32-year-old will become a pillar of health in year 13. Embiid himself may even oppose it (he does not want the baby treatment), but the organization needs him healthy in June. That is especially true if they have to run into the likes of Victor Wembanyama in the finals. Adding LeBron would give the 76ers more roster flexibility, including in the management of the process.

End Of My Philadelphia 76ers LeBron Rant

The 76ers are likely the favorites in the East as presently constructed. If they were to add James, it is probably inevitable at that point (barring injuries). Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Embiid would be in the running for the best starting five in NBA history! That would be a team that could flirt with the all-time regular-season wins record, but it is probably best that they did not shoot for that. The goal is June, and wearing players down, especially LeBron and Embiid, for regular-season accomplishments is not worth it.

There will surely be pushback if James signs with what is already a loaded 76ers team. The idea of big threes and super teams is not ideal for parity, and it makes the regular season less compelling for some fans. Honestly, though, it feels like most only dislike super teams because of who the squads were. If you ask Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers fans, they surely love the idea of stars being on the same squad.

Personally, I am here for “The Avengers”, and when you examine what the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have, you need all the help you can get! If Philadelphia signed LeBron, it would be a box office move, and everyone would tune in to see the show. It may be time to get your popcorn ready, as the 76ers could be on the brink of another home run move.