Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Sixers eyeing LeBron James as final piece of All-Star trio

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 5/20/24

Among the worst-kept secrets in the NBA ahead of the offseason is that the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to go star hunting. Following the trade of James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, the 76ers bolstered their assets for a potential deal to acquire a star, but also will enter free agency with the cap space to add a big name.

While Paul George has been floated as a popular name to monitor for the Sixers, the team is at least keeping an eye on the situation with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. As Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted, the Sixers would “love” to pair James with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

"They would love to add LeBron James to their All-Star tandem of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey," Pompey wrote. "The Sixers believe Embiid and Maxey will have them well-positioned to be next season’s second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics."

James still needs to opt out of his $51.4 million deal with the Lakers before free agency even becomes a conversation. Even if the future Hall-of-Famer does go that route, it appears more likely than not that he’ll remain with the Lakers. But if James is a free agent, teams will make a push to persuade him by pitching a change of scenery.

While James himself is the only one who knows what direction he’s leaning, it’s hard to envision a world where the Sixers aren’t at the forefront of a free-agent push should the Lakers star opt to consider a wider range of options.

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