LeBron James to Sixers? Rumors heat up after sudden Jaylen Brown trade
· Yahoo Sports
LeBron James could be headed back to the Eastern Conference.
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The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly the latest team to express interest in the four-time MVP, according to ESPN.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the NBA offseason by acquiring Jaylen Brown in a trade with their division rival Boston Celtics on Wednesday, July 1.
Brown is coming off one of his best individual seasons, finishing sixth in the regular-season MVP voting, but he apparently fell out of favor with the Celtics, following various comments after their ouster from the playoffs – ironically at the hands of Philadelphia.
The Brown trade made Philly’s roster younger after unloading Paul George and four draft picks to Boston as part of the trade.
Now, a potential agreement with James would help create a dramatic shift in the Eastern Conference, just two years after the Celtics won their league-leading 18th NBA championship in 2024.
If the 4-time NBA MVP were to choose the Sixers as his next destination, James would join a roster that includes former MVP Joel Embiid, five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
James future had been uncertain since the Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended in the playoffs, but provided some clarity earlier this week when he told the Lakers he was not going to be returning for a ninth consecutive season with the franchise.
The 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games played this past season for the Lakers.
Would LeBron James fit in Philadelphia 76ers lineup?
With the Jaylen Brown trade, the 76ers projected starting lineup would feature center Joel Embiid, power forward Dean Wade, and guards Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe. The Sixers signed the 6-foot-9 Wade to a four-year, $39 million deal earlier this week following his seven-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Philadelphia also inked veteran guard Anfernee Simons as a free agent and selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Where could LeBron James play?
James is expected to take his time and see how the free agency period unfolds. James is no stranger to the conference. Two of his former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat, are among the teams expected to be interested in James.
There’s still a possibility for James to remain in the state of California, taking a trip up North to Oakland to play for coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors, joining a roster that includes Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Warriors received some indication from James and his representatives that they remain on the four-time champion’s short list, but they may not necessarily be at the top of that short list.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James to Sixers? Rumors heat up after sudden Jaylen Brown trade