It’s not normal for a free agent of LeBron James’ magnitude to drag free agency all the way out until near the end of July, but that’s exactly what the greatest player of all time did.
It seemed like it was coming down to a two-team race between two of his former squads — the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. However, the Philadelphia 76ers ended up winning the day.
With Philadelphia adding Jaylen Brown and James to a core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers are now well equipped to not only get to the NBA Finals but win it all.
At this stage of his career, James is probably the fourth-best player on this team, though Edgecombe could easily overtake that spot should he experience a big leap in Year 2.
James and Embiid almost certainly won’t make it all the way through an 82-game season, but the Sixers won’t need them to.
Brown proved last season he could help the Boston Celtics earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite Jayson Tatum missing most of the season, and Maxey is more than capable of dropping 30+ points on any given night.
Brown and Maxey will figure to have the ball in their hands most of the time and take care of all the shot creation, as James could use his IQ to set those teammates up for clean looks and pick his spots throughout the game when he sees a clear advantage.
In the 2024 Olympics, James wasn’t always relied upon to do all the heavy scoring, but down the stretch of games, it was clear he was needed to take over when the game slowed down and defend the opposing team’s best player.
James has worked alongside several superstars throughout his career, such as Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis. Though he’s certainly had to make some sacrifices, this might be the first time he’s ever had to truly take a backseat.
But at 41 years old, James knows the tank is eventually going to empty, so The King saw the Sixers as the best fit for him to win another championship before he steps down from his throne.
The upside is obvious. Adding James to the lineup, no matter his age, elevates any team’s ceiling. But this team will need a perfect bill of health to go all the way, which is far from a guarantee.
