LeBron James is officially a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, ending months of speculation and giving Philadelphia one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. The move immediately elevates championship expectations and raises a new question: How does the 41-year-old fit on a roster already featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe?
James played primarily at small forward for the Lakers last season, but has routinely shown that he can play any position on the court at an elite level. For the Sixers, this move likely places free agent signing Dean Wade on the bench and slots James into the starting power forward role alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid. James will have plenty of opportunity to operate as the floor general, allowing for Maxey and the Sixers' other off-ball talents to thrive.
A big draw for James was the pure talent of the Sixers' potential starting lineup. Embiid, Brown and Maxey have all proven to be top scorers throughout their careers, and James' passing should create quality scoring opportunities throughout Philadelphia's offense. Maxey and Brown are both coming off career seasons where each averaged a career high in points per game. Embiid struggled to stay healthy once again last season, was able to shoulder the offensive load come playoff time, overcoming the Boston Celtics in the playoffs after going down 3-1 to open the series.
One of the biggest concerns for the Sixers after the Jaylen Brown trade was their lack of playmaking. LeBron will alleviate some of those concerns and could once again rank among the league leaders in assists. With Maxey and Edgecombe pushing the ball in transition, Embiid's paint dominance, and Jaylen Brown’s three-level scoring, the Sixers may quickly turn into one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league.
It’s also worth noting that LeBron is still a force of offense on his own when he needs to be. The 22-time All-Star averaged 20.9 points last season on 51.5% shooting for the Lakers despite the addition of offensive powerhouse Luka Doncic to the squad. While missing Austin Reaves and Doncic for much of the postseason, he increased that total to 23.2 points a game. This is not the same LeBron as he was in his prime, but he is still a consistent source of offense and his game IQ is arguably higher than ever, adding even more firepower to the Sixers' stacked arsenal.
The biggest concern for the Sixers moving forward will once again be injuries. Injuries can derail any season, but the Sixers have long been one of the most affected teams during the Embiid era. Adding a 41-year-old forward, even one as dominant as LeBron, will add more fuel to that fire. LeBron was limited to only 60 regular-season games played last season, but the depth the Sixers now have is far more than either they or the Lakers had last season.
The additions of Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade will provide the Sixers with capable starters anytime players miss injury. Jaylen Brown will also be able to shoulder a significant amount of the offensive load for the Sixers in a way that few others have been able to in the Joel Embiid era.
The Sixers are built to be a true title contender this season, and now, with the addition of LeBron, expectations for the squad are at an all-time high, but so is excitement. After LeBron signed with the Lakers over the Sixers in the 2018 offseason, many felt like they had missed their chance to acquire LeBron. Now, with LeBron finally coming to Philadelphia, the Sixers finally seem to have a real chance to bring a championship back to Philly for the first time since the 1983 NBA season.
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