LeBron's final decision: Why he chose Philly and w...
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- LeBron James told the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 he was leaving and on Friday chose the Philadelphia 76ers after a three-week courtship that included a pitch from Sixers president Bob Myers and recruiting texts from Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid.
- LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million contract worth $3.9 million per year — 2.35% of the salary cap — via the veterans minimum exception, and the Sixers are hard-capped after signing Dean Wade for more than $6.1 million of the non-tax mid-level exception.
- The Philadelphia 76ers' second major summer addition came after trading Paul George and a haul of picks to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown, pairing James with Embiid, Brown, Maxey, and rookie VJ Edgecombe.
- Fit questions loom: Jaylen Brown ranked second in the NBA in usage last season while Maxey was 15th, and Joel Embiid has played only 57 games across the past two seasons due to injuries — requiring all proven scorers to make sacrifices.
- LeBron James could live in New York City and commute to Philadelphia for practices and games, a setup his agent Rich Paul said would have been an "easy choice" for the New York Knicks had they won the championship in June.
- Rejected suitors now face pivots: the Cleveland Cavaliers can pursue James Harden, the Golden State Warriors must decide Draymond Green's future, and the Miami Heat need a playmaker to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Golden State was the least appealing option, with Jimmy Butler rehabbing an ACL tear, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs looming as Western Conference obstacles, and the Warriors having won just 37 games last season.
Why it matters: The 76ers went all-in on a championship window by trading Paul George and picks for Jaylen Brown, then adding LeBron James on a two-year, $8M minimum — but they're hard-capped from signing Dean Wade at $6.1M, forcing roster moves just to fit James below the first apron. The Cavaliers, Warriors, and Heat lose their top free-agent target with training camps approaching.
