LeBron James picks 76ers: Staff grades the move
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, signing a minimum contract in what he called his "last decision."
- The 76ers rebuilt around the signing by trading Paul George and two first-round picks to Boston for Jaylen Brown and splitting their mid-level exception on Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, per new head of basketball operations Mike Gansey.
- Brad Botkin graded the move a B+, calling the Timberwolves the best pure basketball fit (an A) because he trusts Rudy Gobert's durability more than Joel Embiid's and would give Anthony Edwards the edge over any available teammate.
- John Gonzalez handed out the lone A+, saying James fills a "LeBron-sized hole at power forward" alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Embiid, putting Philly in the same tier as the Knicks and Celtics.
- Sam Quinn gave it a B — an A+ for the Sixers' surplus value, but warned that Embiid's health is the load-bearing risk; if it works, James becomes the only player to lead four different teams to a championship and ends Philadelphia's 44-year title drought.
- Cameron Salerno graded A-, docking only for the multi-week deliberation, and called the offseason "the tipping point of the Eastern Conference overtaking the West."
Why it matters: The 76ers land a Hall of Fame talent at the minimum, but inherit the Embiid-health uncertainty that has defined the franchise for a decade. If Embiid holds up, Philadelphia joins Boston and New York as a realistic Eastern Conference contender with a shot at ending a 44-year championship drought — and LeBron adds a fourth franchise championship to a résumé no other player can match.
