LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, minimum-salary contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, a choice that surprised several front-office officials around the league, according to The Athletic.
Multiple executives told the outlet they expected the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors to land the four-time MVP. “That was like option No. 4,” one executive said moments after the deal became public.
Championship calculus
A source close to James said the 39-year-old forward believes Philadelphia offers the clearest path to a fifth NBA title. The club’s recent blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown was described as a key factor; before acquiring Brown, team officials considered themselves a long shot to sign James.
Recruiting effort
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey made several phone calls to James in recent weeks, The Athletic reported. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey—who has known James for more than 25 years dating back to their high-school days in Northeast Ohio—opted against an aggressive sales pitch.
Decision process
James instructed agent Rich Paul to inform the 76ers of his decision Friday morning. Even members of James’s inner circle were unaware until that call, and rival suitors were left uninformed until later in the day.
The Athletic noted that James was not waiting on potential trades involving Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving; the decision rested solely on where he felt he could win immediately.
Projected role
James, who turns 41 during the upcoming season, is expected to start at power forward alongside Brown, Embiid, Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. With multiple scoring options available, the 20-time All-Star is projected to focus more on facilitation than on carrying the offense nightly.
A former Lakers teammate told The Athletic that James had seriously considered Philadelphia during his 2018 free agency before ultimately joining Los Angeles. Six years later, that interest has materialized into a formal commitment.
Source: Hoops Wire
