The Philadelphia 76ers came out of nowhere to land Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade almost no one around the NBA saw coming until it had materialized, and now Philly has trained its collective eye on four-time MVP LeBron James.
Shams Charania of ESPN offered a report on the 76ers’ official interest in James on Thursday afternoon, July 2.
“I’m told the Sixers are also trying to make a pitch to LeBron James,” Charania said on SportsCenter. “Include the Sixers and maybe one or two other teams in due time in that mix.”
LeBron James Suddenly Strong Fit for 76ers
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
James and the Los Angeles Lakers parted ways officially a couple of days past after eight years and one championship ring together.
James entered free agency as a candidate for a handful of teams, with frontrunners including the Golden State Warriors and a reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished second in the Eastern Conference during the most recent postseason.
Other teams mentioned as potential suitors by The Athletic when free agency opened on June 30 included the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. At that point, Brown was not a member of the 76ers, and Philadelphia was not a bonafide contender to compete for a title out of the Eastern Conference.
However, after acquiring Brown, Philly vaulted into fifth place in title odds on DraftKings Sportsbook at plus-2000, trailing only the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder (tied at plus-270), the New York Knicks at plus-850 and the Boston Celtics at plus-1300.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN, among others, has reported in the past 48 hours that James is planning to prioritize happiness over money this offseason and is potentially open to signing with the right contender for the league minimum, which sets the stage for the 76ers to enter the conversation in serious fashion.
76ers Can Replace Paul George’s Contributions by Adding LeBron James
GettyPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
James could potentially provide a statistical replacement for Paul George, who played well for Philadelphia down the stretch of last regular season and into the playoffs following a 25-game suspension for PED use that nevertheless kept him healthy and rested for the team’s run to a Round 1 victory over Boston.
George, who was the primary personnel piece for salary-matching purposes in the Brown trade with the Celtics, averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 37 games played in 2025-26. James was better at 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games started. He was also pivotal in a Round 1 playoff victory for the Lakers over the Houston Rockets.
Philadelphia’s true title chances will again be inextricably linked to former MVP and center Joel Embiid’s ability to stay healthy and productive in 2026-27, as he has three years remaining on what is currently an untradeable contract valued at a total of nearly $188 million.
That said, substituting James for George and adding Brown, a second-team All-NBA performer last season who finished 6th in MVP voting, should put the 76ers in prime position to compete with any opposition in the East next season.
76ers Officially in Running for LeBron James After Jaylen Brown Trade: Report