Perhaps we must always have paid higher consideration to Rich Paul’s whiteboard on the “Game Over” podcast.
If you’ve got been following my sequence on the LeBron James free-agency odyssey, I wrote concerning the 10 groups that Paul had on his whiteboard.
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But trying again at it, Paul made it past apparent the place James was going.
On the notorious whiteboard, just one staff had a participant with a star subsequent to their identify: Tyrese Maxey with the Philadelphia 76ers.
That’s the identical 76ers that James in the end selected to be his remaining NBA residence, and one which I wrote about, suggesting that James signing with them would put the staff excessive of their seek for an NBA Championship.
Related: LeBron James Could Put Philadelphia 76ers Over the Top
On Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that James signed a two-year, $8 million take care of Philadelphia, the place he’ll finish his storied, Basketball Hall of Fame profession.
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James made it clear that cash was by no means a very powerful issue, so taking a minimum-salary deal will not be a shock in any respect.
We ought to have listened to Paul, as a result of he made it apparent the entire time the place his consumer at Klutch Sports Group was going.
In the top, that little star beside Maxey — one other Klutch Sports consumer — made all of the distinction on the earth, as that is the place James selected as his remaining NBA vacation spot.
The 76ers Are Ridiculously Stacked Now
In a social media publish after becoming a member of the 76ers, James defined why he determined to signal with Philadelphia.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote on his X.
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With James now on the 76ers, that is what the staff’s beginning lineup seems like this coming season:
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: V.J. Edgecombe
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: LeBron James
C: Joel Embiid
If this beginning 5 stays wholesome, this staff has the chance to win 60+ video games within the Eastern Conference.
In truth, after signing James, DraftKings Sportsbook now lists the 76ers because the staff within the Eastern Conference with one of the best likelihood to win the NBA Championship at +900 betting odds, alongside the New York Knicks, the defending NBA Champions who’re additionally +900.
That places them simply behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs within the Western Conference, who’re co-favorites to win all of it at +270 betting odds every.
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At +900, the 76ers are nicely value a guess for an NBA Championship future, as that is one of the best staff within the Eastern Conference proper now on paper.
Of course, the NBA is not performed on paper, and if the 76ers take care of accidents, then issues can simply go sideways. But in the event that they keep wholesome, there isn’t a cause to suppose the 76ers cannot go to the NBA Finals and probably snap the franchise’s 43-year playoff drought.
They have been already an excellent staff, however now they’re an elite staff. By buying Jaylen Brown and James this summer season, to not point out bench scorer Anfernee Simons, defensive-minded Dean Wade, and NBA Champion Ariel Hukporti, the 76ers are the favorites to return out of the Eastern Conference and make it to the NBA Finals.
They have every part wanted to win all of it ought to they keep wholesome, and looking out again at issues with the advantage of hindsight, it is no marvel James selected to go to Philadelphia.
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More NBA:
Will Bronny James Join His Dad in Philadelphia?
Now that James has joined the 76ers, the subsequent query is, will his son, Bronny James, be part of him in Philadelphia?
Related: How Bronny Factor Shapes Cavs LeBron James Free Agency Hunt
The youthful James remains to be below contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for this coming season at a minimal wage of $2.3 million. So, if he will be part of his father in Philadelphia, the Lakers are going to must let him go.
That should not be a problem. Either the Lakers might commerce Bronny James to the 76ers for one thing minimal, like a future second-round decide, or they might even simply waive him and let him signal with the 76ers as a free agent, maybe on a two-way contract.
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Either approach, it is unlikely that the Lakers put up a lot resistance right here, as they’re prone to let the youthful James go play along with his father for his remaining two seasons of his historic NBA profession.
Bronny James will not play a lot, if any, function in Philadelphia this coming season. But father and son clearly need to play collectively, so it is smart that the 76ers and Lakers determine a technique to make it occur.
Related: Brad Stevens Messed Up Badly With Awful Jaylen Brown Trade
This story was initially revealed by Lindys Sports on Jul 25, 2026, the place it first appeared within the NBA part. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.