LeBron to Philadelphia signals begin to add up
PHILADELPHIA » Beyond slamdunkers jumping over mascots, oddly performed national anthems and an itchy mix of entertainers and athletes, the NBA’s All-Star Weekend exists for one reason. It’s where the people who know things gather to let news kind-of, sort-of slip. That skills competition, the most valuable of all, was won in the past few days by Ben Simmons with an Instagram post and a muffled hint that something will happen this June that would likely make the 76ers world champions by the next one.
LeBron James could be on his way to Camden.
In fact, if the Sixers’ painful path to fulfillment is to be faithfully followed, LeBron James must be on his way to Camden.
Though there is nothing particularly evidential about the photo Simmons posted showing him in a group of NBA players, including James, dressed for an evening out in Los Angeles, it has followed a trail of similar bread crumbs. More, it was sup-
plemented by this Simmons comment: “June 30th, midnight.” That would be the instant that the next NBA free agent class has been sprung free. And James is eligible to be in that class.
It was the best, most well-timed, meaningful play of the entire weekend. So with that, it is time to re-trace that steps that have led to the point where a post that could be viewed as more worthwhile than whimsical.
LeBron James to the Sixers?
• James and Simmons are both represented by the Klutch Sports Group, through which they have built a strong friendship. Nothing happens in the 21st century NBA without approval of agents. That doesn’t mean that every group of agents will automatically endeavor to group all of its clients on one team. But the pairing of Simmons and James would be the sturdiest generational bridge any side – the league, the players, the agents – could envision. Those potential win-winwins are tough to dismiss.
• Distasteful as it was, the Sixers’ rebuilding process included one underthe-surface layer that has yet to be uncovered.
The short version was that the Sixers would lose games, gain top draft choices and construct a foundation for excellence. The deeper story was that, while doing all of that, they Team Stephen center Joel Embiid, of the Philadelphia 76ers, wrestles for possession with Team LeBron’s Kevin Durat, of the Golden State Warriors, and LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, during the second half of the AllStar Game Sunday.
would position themselves to have the cap room to finance a max contract for an established superstar once they had enough young talent in place.
The Sixers have put together what should be a playoff team. That could catch James’ attention. Better still, for them, is that at season’s end, they can shed J.J. Redick, Amir Johnson and Trevor Booker, saving about $43 million. Rough as the loss of Redick would be, that would provide enough room for them to enter the serious James bidding.
• Though the Sixers gave Robert Covington a $62 million contract extension early this season, theoretically for his outside shooting and his ability to be a shut-down defender, something odd happened shortly thereafter. Suddenly, there was a certain chill from inside the operation whenever the talk turned to Covington being a long-term, star-level supplement to Simmons and Joel Embiid. There was nothing quotable. But it was as if the Sixers didn’t want to
over-sell Covington, just in case something better was about to spring free. Even if that is evidence of nothing, the sense that they had something else in mind was thick.
• LeBron James does what is best for LeBron James. Even if it would be up for debate, he could use at least one more championship to cement himself as the greatest ever to play. As pro basketball is constructed, championship teams require three superstars. Not two. Four maybe. But at least three. Neither Embiid nor Simmons is at that level. Both are close. Both could make it by next year. Both would take dramatic career leaps with James. All three, if healthy, could easily compete for a championship.
• There is a gambling line, set by Bovada, for where James will play next season. While there are shorter odds on Houston, Cleveland, the Lakers and Golden State, there were the Sixers, like the Pistons, at reasonable 10-to-1 as recently as two weeks ago. All-Star Game gossip, agent-speak and Instagram posts say plenty. Vegas speaks the truth. And that line screams that the Sixers are very much in the James game.
The Sixers have encamped at a world-class training center. They regularly play before sellout crowds. They may have the Coach of the Year. Simmons and Embiid are impossible not to appreciate. The money is there. The motivation is there. Philadelphia looked great during the Eagles parade. And Simmons might prove to be an effective recruiter.
Quaint as the process has been, the Sixers are not going to make it from lottery to legendary without another superstar. James will turn 34 next December and he remains among the NBA’s top five forces. His presence would lift pressure from Simmons and defensive attention from Embiid. Mix him in with Dario Saric, who has the potential to make it the required three-and-a-half superstars, and the Sixers can contact Jason Kelce for advice on proper parade-wear.
The Sixers deliberately put their customers and their city through years of disgraceful basketball. It’s time for them to pay up. At midnight, June 30, they can do that, as the man implied.
Either that or they can recall Furkan Korkmaz from Delaware 19 times next season and see if that works.