Sixers: LeBron James is the next farfetched desire

By George Kondoleon | Jul 21, 2017

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers attends a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas /

LeBron James to the Sixers rumors has created curiosity. It’s giving the world the greatest pipe dream.

The Sixers are always in the center of some kind of oddity. From the Andrew Bynum trade, to the weird nepotistic exit of Sam Hinkie thanks to some league intervention, Philadelphia never stays quiet. The rebuild is set to take on new heights this year thanks to the expected returns of core players, and the addition of some marquee names.

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid look to find health as the most unique assets of this Sixers rebuild. Markelle Fultz and J.J. Redick come in as the next pieces to elevate this roster. In all, the future is looking bright. Even this next season looks bright. But some are thinking bigger.

And I’m talking insanely bigger.

LeBron James is the greatest player since Michael Jordan, and he’s also on the target list for the Sixers. Seems laughable, right? I mean this team is just a season removed from a 10-win season. But the faint dots are there for Philadelphia to at least become even a small voice in the pursuit for LeBron after the 2017-2018 season.

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Could you imagine the instant turnaround? James is more than just a generational player. He’s a literal franchise-changer from top to bottom. He can turn no talent into a championship caliber franchise. So if the Sixers did find a way to land him, what would happen?

Well, at least a Finals appearance for sure. With the West loading up to chase the Golden State Warriors, the East is playing the waiting game. The Sixers could be peaking at the right time, and LeBron James could look to pass his final years with a young team that has the pieces to allow him to “pass the torch”.

Would this core with LeBron added beat the Warriors? Who cares? The Sixers would be the an elite talent, and whether that places them in the same bracket as Warriors is up for debate. There is some hesitation out there, however. That adding LeBron James would somehow tarnish the natural order of the rebuild and winning a championship wouldn’t have the same lust.

Because I’m sure Golden State feels slimy for regaining the crown after signing Kevin Durant. Philadelphia went through this rebuild to get to a point where they can attract free agents. And even if their strongest selling point is the connection between Simmons and James through an agency, then still the rebuild served one of its multiple purposes.

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But it won’t happen. LeBron James may leave Cleveland, and if he does, Philadelphia probably won’t top the list in the end. But it’s fun to speculate, especially knowing that the franchise is still in strong hands if they do fail to land a miracle.