The Phoenix Suns could be a viable destination for LeBron James
By Adam Maynes
Philadelphia 76ers (7-2 odds)
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the most interesting teams on this list because of the young stars that they already have in place.
As such, the Sixers are in a better place than the Los Angeles Lakers, for instance.
Who would you rather: Ben Simmons or Lonzo Ball?
Who would you rather: Joel Embiid or Julius Randle?
How about Dario Saric or Kyle Kuzma?
Or Markelle Fultz or Brandon Ingram?
There is no arguing that head-to-head that foursome is close in talent. However, there is also no arguing (at least in my opinion) that the top players lean most heavily in the Sixers’ favor, specifically Simmons and Embiid.
Not only that, but with zero overpaid veterans on the roster, the 10th and 26th overall picks in the draft, plus four second round picks (not to mention the redundant nature of Fultz behind or beside Simmons), and the Sixers have ample opportunity for trading for another star to pair up with LeBron if he is signed simply as a free agent to play alongside Simmons and Embiid.
Unlike the Lakers as well, the Philadelphia core also now has playoff experience, having made it to the Semifinals this past season.
A 52-win team in 2017-18, add LeBron and possibly even Paul George, and Philadelphia is easily a 60-win team minimum, and competing for the best record in the Association with Boston and Golden State.
By staying in the Eastern Conference too, there is also the benefit that LeBron wouldn’t have to go through the Warriors to get to the Finals, rather he’d have to go through Boston, although presumably on a team that he believes under the right circumstances would be superior.
Certainly we’ll see, if the Celtics make a major acquisition this offseason (say, Kawhi Leonard) without gutting their glut of talent or depth, then they will be even more difficult to beat, and it already took LeBron and the Cavs seven games to get past them.