The Philadelphia 76ers are doing everything they can to get LeBron James to sign with them this summer. And they’re not exactly being subtle about it.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George have all been in contact with James recently. Maxey has been the most active recruiter of the three. That makes sense given their connection off the court.
Maxey and James share the same agency in Klutch Sports. Maxey has publicly called James his big brother before. It is not hard to see why the Sixers would want him working the phones.
Why These Three Make Sense as Recruiters
James and Embiid spent time together on Team USA during the Paris Olympics. They won a gold medal. That kind of experience tends to build some trust between players. Embiid can sell James on what it would look like to play next to a dominant big man who can also step out and shoot.
As for George, he and James have a history of playoff battles. James was on the Cavs. George was on the Pacers. They went at each other hard. Earlier this season, James gave George some real praise for how well he was playing.
“He’s playing great basketball, man,” James said at the time. “This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some, as well. Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season.”
So there is mutual respect there. That is not nothing when you are trying to convince a guy to leave his current situation.
The Fit Question
On paper, James would fit pretty cleanly with this Sixers core. Maxey can handle the ball and score off the catch. Embiid commands double teams in the post. George can guard multiple positions and knock down spot-up threes. James would have more spacing around him than he has had in years. The talent level might be higher here than anywhere else in the running.
The other teams trying to land James include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. Every one of those teams has a real argument. Cleveland is home. Miami has the Heat culture pitch. Golden State has the dynasty legacy. Minnesota has Anthony Edwards and a rising roster.
But Philadelphia has three stars recruiting James directly. And they have the cap space to make it work. James has not made a decision public yet. The clock is ticking though. Free agency decisions usually come fast once the window opens. If the Sixers pull this off, the Eastern Conference changes completely overnight.
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