Windhorst: 76ers ‘A Threat’ to Sign Lakers’ LeBron James in 2024 NBA Free Agency

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVMay 27, 2024

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The Philadelphia 76ers are a “threat” but not a “serious threat” at this stage to sign LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Windhorst said Monday on Get Up that “I think when you look at the options, I think the Lakers are still in very strong position” to retain James. However, he added that Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has pursued the four-time MVP “for a decade now” and has the salary cap flexibility to sign him outright on a max contract.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reported Sunday the Sixers are casting a relatively wide net with their bounty of cap space. The Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George is at the top of the list due in part to the likelihood he could actually leave his current team. James and the New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby are also prospective targets.

The argument against James bolting Los Angeles in general is pretty simple: If he actually wanted to, he would’ve done it by now.

The 39-year-old has already extended the Lakers much more generosity than he did with the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers during his second run there. Surely he must have wondered whether there’s a path to a second ring in purple and gold after the franchise missed the playoffs altogether in 2021-22. And he stuck around anyway.

The subtle shift in the framing around LeBron’s desire to team up with his son offers another indicator of what his true preferences could be.

Back in 2022, he told The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd he “would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year.” Many took that to mean the Jameses could be a package deal since LeBron had the opportunity to pick his destination as a free agent this summer.

Fast forward to the present, however, and that’s not really the message coming out of the James camp.

During Get Up on May 13, Windhorst reported that Rich Paul, who represents LeBron and Bronny, “has made an effort to part the concept that drafting Bronny James means you’re getting LeBron.”

In an interview with Chris Haynes for Bleacher Report, Paul seemingly reinforced that narrative.

“Well, LeBron said he wanted to play with his son. Bronny can’t do anything about that,” he said. “And that’s nothing we should push back on. If he wants to play with his son, that’s that. But again, I have a job to do representing Bronny and LeBron.

“LeBron’s season’s over. I’m focused on Bronny and the rest of our draft class. If it aligns where he can play with his dad, great. Am I necessarily focused on that? No, not at all. I’m focused on a team-plan investment and a seriousness as it pertains to fit and opportunity.”

Any team with championship ambitions would be foolish not to at least reach out to James’ reps and see if there’s any level of interest in a partnership.

That George is considered the Sixers’ “Plan A,” per The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, points to the idea they, like Windhorst, see landing James as a bit of a long shot.