Sixers Register Interest In LeBron James

Golden State, Cleveland, and Miami have been the three teams most frequently linked to the 41-year-old since he informed the Lakers he wouldn’t be returning to the team this offseason. However, his camp have welcomed inquiries from all potential suitors, with agent Rich Paul suggesting he heard from nearly half the league on the first night of free agency. Minnesota and Denver are among the clubs said to have conveyed their interest, and Jones suggests the 76ers are part of that group too.

Philadelphia’s pitch to James may be stronger now than it was a few hours ago. The Sixers have reportedly agreed to trade Paul George and a series of draft picks to Boston in exchange for All-NBA second-teamer Jaylen Brown, who will join former MVP Joel Embiid, two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, and Rookie of the Year finalist VJ Edgecombe in Philadelphia.

Adding James to that group would give the Sixers a formidable starting lineup, with role players like Dean Wade, Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards, Ariel Hukporti, and rookie Labaron Philon Jr. coming off the bench.

The 76ers don’t have a ton of spending flexibility. They’re about $9.6MM below their first-apron hard cap, per Yossi Gozlan’s data at CapSheets.com, and would have roughly $6MM of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception available to offer a free agent if they sign Hukporti using the bi-annual exception.

Still, reporting this week has indicated that James will prioritize his “happiness” and a legitimate ability to contend for a title rather than seeking the highest possible salary.

In an NBA TV appearance on Wednesday (Twitter video link), NBA insider Chris Haynes said he expects James to take a “patient” and “deliberate” approach to his free agency.