The expectation in the NBA right now is that LeBron James will decline his player option for next season in order to become a free agent this summer. It is something his agent, Rich Paul, recently hinted at.
Many people also expect James to re-sign with the Lakers after opting out, in one way or another. However, one can never be certain of what he will do or what he has planned for the immediate future.
According to Keith Pompey, a Sixers insider, James could be one of the players the team targets in free agency in just a few weeks if it fails to sign Paul George.
Via The Philadelphia Inquirer:
“The Sixers do have their eyes on other lucrative-salary impact players just in case they don’t get George,” said Pompey. “That’s why they also are looking at potential free agents like the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby.”
Throughout the first few months of the season, the Sixers appeared to be a championship-caliber team. However, Joel Embiid’s meniscus injury dashed their title hopes, and they will need a reinforcement or two to truly compete with Eastern Conference heavyweights like the New York Knicks, who eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs, and the Boston Celtics.
George, a 34-year-old nine-time All-Star, can opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and enter the free agent market this offseason.According to an Eastern Conference executive, the Sixers are the most likely team to draft James’ son Bronny this June. It is believed that if a team selects the younger James in the draft, it may entice his father to leave the Lakers and join that team.
Sixers executive Daryl Morey called the Lakers a few months ago to try to set up a trade for James. However, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka quickly rebuffed the attempt.