Edgecombe, who won the Rising Stars Challenge MVP award at this year's NBA All-Star festivities, posted the celebration to his Instagram stories shortly after the news broke. He shared a photo of himself holding his hand to his head looking up at the camera smiling in the same way as James' famous "Smiling through it all! Can't believe this my life" Instagram story.
VJ Edgecombe recreated LeBron’s “Can’t believe this my life” meme on his IG stories upon hearing the news that the King was going to be his 76ers teammate 😂🏆 pic.twitter.com/KFoLhNYUWK
The four-time NBA champion was reportedly deciding between Philadelphia or a return to the Miami Heat or his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.
The 2026-2027 NBA schedule has not been released yet, but the 76ers open preseason with a game against the Celtics on Saturday, October 10. This past season, Philadelphia made it to the conference semifinals where they were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks.
After James announced he was ending his free agency saga by signing with the Sixers, Drummond — a former Sixer himself — reacted by writing “Oh” and a concerned/sad emoji on X.
Drummond spent the last two seasons in Philly before joining the now defending-champion Knicks in free agency this summer.
Some fans questioned his decision to leave the Sixers, while others appeared to reference his post as being concerned about James joining the Knicks’ division rivals.
Former Sixer Andre Drummond posted his reaction to the LeBron James news on X. NBAE via Getty Images
However, the veteran center soon cleared things up in another post.
“I’m good where I’m at,” he wrote along with a praying-hands emoji.
Drummond is still one of the better rebounders in the league and will provide the Knicks with some much-needed frontcourt depth after the departure of Mitchell Robinson.
In 19.5 minutes per game last year, Drummond scored 6.4 points and hauled in 8.4 rebounds per contest.
After leaving the Lakers, James has decided to join his fourth franchise and go to the Sixers. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
He’ll be part of a Knicks team with big expectations next season, though the Sixers will also be a hugely formidable division rival after the addition of James.
With Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe, Philly will be considered a major threat to make it out of the East and prevent the Knicks from defending their crown.
The rest of the East also figures to be loaded, with Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up with Bam Adebayo on the Heat and Tyrese Haliburton expected to be back healthy for the Pacers.
Jayson Tatum will also be ready for the Celtics’ opening night after missing much of last year through injury.
The 41-year-old spent the better part of a month deciding where he would spend the final years of his career.
The rest of the league watched and waited for James to make the highly-touted decision, which has surely shaken up the Eastern Conference.
Bronny James is expected to remain with the Lakers after LeBron’s exit as he competes for a larger backcourt role. Getty Images
Now, the next question to answer is this: Will Bronny James follow his father?
As things stand, there are currently no plans or request for Bronny James to follow the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Rich Paul, the agent of both Jameses, told ESPN that “they are not a package deal.”
As for the impact of LeBron James’ decision on his son Bronny James, Rich Paul, the agent for both tells ESPN that "they are not a package deal" and there's no current plan or request for Bronny Janes to join his father in Philly.
LeBron James and Bronny James are not a package deal, according to their agent Rich Paul. Getty Images
The latest update falls in line with how the Los Angeles Lakers view Bronny James, as the team reportedly doesn’t view the father and son as an inseparable package.
James informed the Lakers he would not return for the upcoming season in late June. The day prior, Bronny James’ $2.3 million contract became fully guaranteed. It appeared to be a calculated move, but there was speculation the younger James’ future with the Lakers wasn’t set in stone.
Staying in LA would give Bronny James the opportunity to glean from superstar Luka Doncic and other experienced NBA players. The 21-year-old’s performance in the NBA thus far has been modest, but his father’s departure could be an opportunity for him to blossom as a Laker.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 15: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets acquired three-time All-Star Julius Randle and the No. 28 overall pick (Joshua Jefferson) from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-team deal for Nic Claxton and the No. 33 pick.
Nic Claxton is officially on his way out after holding the reins as the longest-tenured Brooklyn Net. The big man recently released a message thanking the fans and the organization for his seven seasons in New York. With his departure set, the focus shifts to the future — and what rookies Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. will be working with on the floor.
Enter three-time All-Star and veteran leader Julius Randle. General Manager Sean Marks executed the deal to retool the frontcourt, bringing in Randle’s scoring and physical presence while converting the No. 28 pick into forward Joshua Jefferson, who the Nets are very high on.
How do Brooklyn Nets fans grade the trade for Julius Randle?
The grade ‘B’ takes a slight edge!
Fans Deadlocked Over Julius Randle-Nic Claxton Trade
The community sentiment ended in a near-exact 50/50 deadlock between ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades, reflecting a split between those eager for Randle’s veteran stardom and those weighing Claxton’s departure against missed draft opportunities.
Development or Stagnation?
Comment: “We liked Claxton but never Loved him. Let’s be honest. He never developed; he never matured. He may have some of the most unwarranted and bizarre Technicals I have ever seen. Julius Randle is a flat-out Star and someone that’s going to play hard on both ends. I grew tired of never seeing 20 and 10 games from him. Claxton seemed to check out and give up on us. It won’t be easier in Chicago. PEACE!!!”
Reply: “From year one I was saying, he’s going to be a beast when he adds 20lbs of muscle. Kept saying that every year. Never happened.”
Comment: “I give this trade an A for three reasons: 1. We got the best player in the deal 2. We give Sharpe a real shot at being the starter. 3. Randell is a better role model then Claxton. Claxton’s antics and quality of play last season were not a good showing for the team as young as the nets.”
Draft Assets and Trade Value
Comment: “More low ambition nibbling around the edges from the Marks-Tsai clown show.”
Reply: “What would you like to have done instead? Nets got an all star caliber player for a guy that’s probably not a starter on a good team and a better pick. I guess Minny could’ve thrown in Ant”
Comment“I woulda kept the 33rd pick, was still some good players on the board there like Meleek Thomas and Isiah Evans…”
Comment: “B+, would’ve been A++ for a move up to snag Cenac or take Peat.”
Thanks to everybody who voted and/or participated.
This is a sponsored post. Check out the latest lines, futures, and player props by visiting FanDuel.
Philadelphia was always on the list of teams LeBron James was seriously considering, but talking to executives and others at NBA Summer League and after, the 76ers were usually dismissed. They were fourth or fifth on people's lists. Great basketball fit, but was LeBron really going to end his career 2,700 miles away from his family, playing for a team he had never played for before?
Philadelphia was swept out of the playoffs last May by the Knicks, and it was hard to envision a path forward. Joel Embiid and his questionable knees, as well as Paul George, were on massive, seemingly untradable contracts. Everyone knew they needed to pivot and make Tyrese Maxey the future, but there seemed to be no path to turning this team into a title contender.
Then Philly traded George to Boston for MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, and things suddenly looked very different. The 76ers added depth, picking up Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons. LeBron doesn't seriously consider Philly if all those moves didn't shake out first.
Now LeBron James puts them over the top — Philadelphia is a legitimate title contender. In my book, you're a contender if you have a very realistic chance to win your conference, and Philadelphia now joins New York at the top of that list in the East. This team also has the depth to make things easy on LeBron and Embiid for the first 82 games, saving them for a playoff push. On top of all that, don't forget they have a championship coach in Nick Nurse (he won with Toronto in 2019), and overseeing everything for ownership is Bob Myers, the architect of the Warriors' title teams.
All that said, winning a title means sacrifice on the part of great players to make it all fit — and there is going to need to be some sacrifice in Philly.
LeBron and Brown know all about those sacrifices. There is no way to frame this other than the 76ers as massive winners.
One final note: Do not expect the 76ers to trade for Bronny James, reuniting him with his father. Rich Paul has said as much. The 76ers don't want to use their 15th and final roster spot on Bronny, and the Lakers don't want to give him up — after two years of development (and hard work by Bronny), he started to look like a potential future rotation player at the end of last season. He works hard on defense and shot 38.6% from 3-point range last season. Bronny deserves the chance to be out of his father's enormous shadow (as much as he ever will be) and stand on his own game. He gets that chance with the Lakers.
Winner: LeBron James
LeBron is not a winner because he chose Philadelphia — that is TBD — but he is a winner because he and his agent Rich Paul became the biggest story in the NBA and held up business for a couple of weeks so a 41-year-old could decide where to play next season. His clout remains unmatched.
LeBron and his decision once again have been the biggest story in sports for a week. It's wild to think about the fact he still has that kind of influence — and he's still a good enough player that this changes the balance of power in the East.
Winner: Teams/players wanting to finish free agency
The NBA can now get down to business and finish up free agency.
That was one of the first reactions from other teams and agents around the league. A lot of things have been on hold waiting for LeBron. James Harden in Cleveland and Draymond Green in Golden State opted out of their deals to give their teams flexibility to chase LeBron and others, now both are cleared to re-sign with their teams. One of the teams that struck out with LeBron likely snags DeMar DeRozan to give them some scoring punch (Miami and Cleveland have been linked). Jonathan Kuminga is hopeful one of the teams that struck out will come calling with a contract and a role he likes (maybe a sign-and-trade, but that is a complex situation).
In the coming days, expect a mini-rush, a second free agency with a lot of deals finalized. The business of the NBA will resume.
Loser: Miami Heat
Miami is still a winner overall this offseason because they landed Giannis Antetokounmpo to play next to Bam Adebayo. However, with all due respect to Andrew Wiggins, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and everyone else in Miami, the Heat lack the kind of depth they are going to need, both for the marathon of the regular season and the playoffs. LeBron helped solve at least some of those problems.
Miami has to round out its roster in the budget shopping aisle, and that's not good for a team that wants to contend.
Loser: Cleveland Cavaliers
A return to Cleveland was a narrative a lot of fans wanted to see (and seemed a natural fit with LeBron turning his last season, or seasons, into a documentary). Instead, LeBron chose to push the Cavaliers further down the East championship ladder.
After striking out in bringing LeBron home (again), the Cavaliers are essentially going to run it back with a good team — Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen — but a team that did nothing to address the flaws that saw them swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks last May. Running it back and hoping for a different result is a rough way to go.
Winner: Los Angeles Lakers
Sometimes, a divorce can be amicable and better for everyone involved. That's what happened with the Lakers and LeBron.
There is no bad blood, although another year in purple and gold likely would have led to some on both sides. The Lakers pivot to building out a roster that is a much better fit stylistically around Luka Doncic (although better is up for debate, a lot depends on Walker Kessler living up to what he's being paid to be). LeBron gets a fresh start with a team that could win the East, he gets to write a new story. It's win-win.
Loser: Stephen Curry and Warriors
Golden State suffered probably the most painful loss of any team in the LeBron chase. When LeBron first announced he was leaving the Lakers, the Warriors were the betting favorite: LeBron would get to team up again with Stephen Curry, he'd be closer to his Los Angeles home and family, and it's a great story for his documentary with him and Curry (then Jimmy Butler joining once he recovers from his torn ACL midseason).
Then came the rumors that the Warriors would trade for Anthony Davis and reunite him with LeBron, and that duo plus Curry, Draymond Green and Butler could have made noise in the West. If the Warriors had been given assurances that getting Davis out of Washington would have meant LeBron came to the Bay Area, they would have gone harder for it, but with everything up in the air (and the Wizards not looking to move AD), nothing happened.
Now the Warriors essentially run back a 37-win play-in team from a year ago, and that's not exciting anyone.
Loser: The idea of the East as the Leastern Conference
There has long been a sense that the Western Conference is the varsity, the East is the JV — there were good teams at the top, but the depth wasn't there.
The East is the least no longer. Granted, the two scariest teams in the NBA heading into the season are still in the West — San Antonio and Oklahoma City — but when it comes to depth of talent and potential, the East has them.
New York and Philadelphia will have the best odds to win the conference, but the Detroit Pistons will run it back with a 60-win team from a season ago; the Boston Celtics will have Jayson Tatum and a depth of talent that will make them a threat; Miami now has Antetokounmpo and is no easy out; Toronto was a 46-win team a year ago that will (eventually, most likely) add Kawhi Leonard to the mix; Cleveland still has Harden and Mitchell and plenty of talent; the Atlanta Hawks looked great after the break and upgraded this offseason drafting Kinston Flemmings and adding Lu Dort; Indiana gets Tyrese Haliburton back and people underestimate how good Ivica Zubac will look in their offense; the Washington Wizards now have Trae Young, AJ Dybantsa and Anthony Davis; and the Magic still have Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner but now under a new coach.
That's 10 legitimately good teams, all capable of finishing in the top six. Who are the ninth and 10th teams in the West? Some combination of Phoenix, Portland, Utah or the LA Clippers? The very top of the West may be scarier, but the East looks deeper now — and LeBron James is part of that.
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Nick Nurse and Mike Gansey pose for a photo as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce Mike Gansey as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When Daryl Morey was fired by the Philadelphia 76ers back in May, fans weren’t quite sure what to expect in the organization’s search for its next top executive. When the Sixers hired Mike Gansey out of Cleveland a few weeks later, fans’ reaction was largely a half-nod, half-head tilt and an “OK, let’s see how this goes.”
The Cavaliers had made some decent draft picks and moves during Gansey’s tenure, but not a ton of home runs, and who knows what to attribute to somebody who isn’t at the top of the org chart. As a former D-1 player, he was undoubtedly a “basketball guy,” a dramatic swing from Daryl “Dork Elvis” Morey, like when a baseball team hires a player’s manager right after having a hard-nosed disciplinarian. It all seemed fine, but Gansey was largely a black box and no one really knew what to expect.
Well, we are less than two months into Gansey’s tenure, and the man has already orchestrated the greatest offseason in Philadelphia 76ers history. You never know with late-first-round rookies, obviously, but nabbing Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick looks like a good move so far. Then, Gansey nailed the smaller moves in free agency. Getting versatile forward Dean Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal looks tremendous compared to some of the other contracts being thrown around this summer. Likewise, signing Anfernee Simons for two years, $12.3 million is a steal on the margins.
Of course, alongside the singles and doubles, Gansey wasn’t afraid to swing for the fences and hit a home run. He turned Paul George, who at this time last year was considered one of the worst contracts in the league, into Jaylen Brown, without giving up the full war chest of draft capital. Brown certainly has some holes in his game, but he’s a player who won Finals MVP just two years ago, is still in his prime, and can soak up a ton of usage to alleviate the minutes and ball handling burden on the Sixers’ backcourt. His arrival immediately transformed the franchise from “at least they have a fun backcourt” to “we need to include the Sixers on the short list of contenders.”
That transformation set the stage for the final stroke in Mike Gansey’s offseason masterpiece: the signing of LeBron James. The greatest NBA player of his generation is going to suit up for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, I’m not going to suggest Gansey is personally responsible for James coming. More than anyone else in the league, LeBron has his own personal agency over how things will unfold in his career. The Klutch connection with Tyrese Maxey played a large part, I’m sure. But you can’t deny Gansey and LeBron being friendly from their Mr. Ohio Basketball days playing some sort of role. And everything else Gansey did with this roster allowed LeBron to view himself as a final missing piece in potentially bringing a championship to Philadelphia. If he was going to set aside personal history with his childhood home in Cleveland or somewhere where he spent a lot of years in Miami, it had to be for basketball reasons. This roster allowed Gansey and Bob Myers and whoever else to make the “basketball reasons” case to LeBron. The Sixers team that get swept by the Knicks in May isn’t snagging King James.
Now, things might not go as well as we might hope. Joel Embiid is still a huge injury risk. LeBron will turn 42 years old in December. Jaylen Brown’s game might not mesh perfectly with Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
But think about where we were a year ago, with the Sixers coming off a 24-58 season. Even two months ago, the Knicks series loss was very dispiriting, and we were having the whole “two timelines” debate. All that has ended. Jaylen Brown is a Sixer. LeBron James is a Sixer!!! In under two months, Mike Gansey has done a 180-degree vibes flip on this franchise. We are about to enter the most highly anticipated Sixers season of at least my lifetime and he is the man to thank.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 28: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Lakers 118-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The biggest question left in NBA free agency was answered on Friday with LeBron James joining the Sixers.
Throughout Bronny’s career, he has been linked to his Dad for every grand moment. Will the next move the Sixers make be a trade with the Lakers so the father-son duo can reunite?
Don’t count on it.
NBA insider Ramona Shelburne reports that Rich Paul, the agent for both Bronny and LeBron, says they are not a packaged deal. Currently, there are no plans for a reunion in Philly.
As for the impact of LeBron James’ decision on his son Bronny James, Rich Paul, the agent for both tells ESPN that "they are not a package deal" and there's no current plan or request for Bronny Janes to join his father in Philly.
Paul saying this so bluntly is certainly interesting. If things were leaning towards Bronny heading to the Sixers, he could have either said so or kept his thoughts to himself.
By Paul stating there is no current plan for a move and considering how late into free agency we are, it seems the most likely possibility then is Bronny remaining a Laker.
For those who have paid attention to Bronny’s career and not focused on narratives, this comes as no surprise.
The Lakers drafted Bronny and he’s gotten better over the last two seasons. A young talent like that doesn’t get moved unless there is a great deal in place.
Bronny has been one of the recent LA draft success stories, and considering they are pivoting towards youth and athleticism, he could be a valuable piece for the franchise moving forward. The Lakers seem to like the idea of keeping Bronny and, considering that his contract for this season is already guaranteed, that’s what’s going to happen unless a trade is executed.
Even after LeBron announced he was leaving LA, Bronny has remained engaged as a Laker. He was at the Las Vegas Summer League watching the Lakers play and participated in a veteran mini-camp.
While speaking at CNBC and Boardroom’s Game Plan Summit at Fanatics Fest, LeBron even referred to Bronny as his former teammate.
LeBron James discusses the family aspect of his decision with Rich Kleiman:
“I have a 22-year-old son who is now a former teammate of mine … which is hilarious” pic.twitter.com/l4X6DRRteN
Plenty can still change between now and the start of the season, but so far all indications are that Bronny will be suiting up with the Lakers for his third season and LeBron will be starting Year No. 24 with the Sixers.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 03: Egor Demin #8 and Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets confer against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on December 03, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He is quietly becoming the face of the franchise if you measure Brooklyn Nets social media … and some of his own. Twenty-year-old Egor Demin didn’t just show his skills in Sacramento and Las Vegas. The Moscow native who played in Madrid and Provo, Utah before joining the Nets is proving to be a very likeable personality for the franchise to market. A bit charismatic too.
Other stars may come along and outshine him but at the moment, it’s him and fellow 20-year-old Mikel Brown Jr. who are showing up across social media.
Here’s the latest from the Egor Dëmin YouTube page … his review of Las Vegas on and off the court. Oh yeah, one other thing: At this rate, someone needs to ask Egor who advised him to get a low taper fade. His co-star in this video and teammate, Michael Porter Jr., would be our educated guess.
00:00 | Dutch Gaitley: “Egor: eight assists, zero turnovers.”
00:24 | Egor Dëmin: “Hey guys, we are in Vegas. It’s boiling out here. I’m about to get—what is it called, a heat stroke? Is that what it is? But it’s fun! What am I saying?”
00:39| Egor Demin: “I’m going to show you guys what is happening this week. Uh, we played the first game—well, we played two games already. I’m recording a couple of days later, but first game I played, it was amazing. I thought, you know, I was very excited to play again.”
00:54 | Egor Demin: “What was your favorite play? Probably Mikel’s pull-up three.”
01:04 | Egor Demin: “Mike, give me—give me two comments really quick. A comment about—about our first game in Vegas.”
01:08| Michael Porter Jr.: “Oh, my boy Egor was killing! He’s getting to the rack. Like a couple of those—a couple of times it looked like you could have dunked it on them dudes.”
01:15| Egor Demin: “I—I think I could! I had some mercy out there.”
01:18| Michael Porter Jr.: “Yeah, but no, he looks good. He told me a couple weeks ago, he was like, ‘I can’t shoot anymore.’ Well, every time I’ve seen him shoot the last few games, it’s cash, dog. So I’m excited to play with this dude this year. He’s going to—going to help lead us, you know what I’m saying?”
01:32| Egor Demin: “Appreciate it, man! Yeah, appreciate it. Good to see you, brother.”
01:35| Egor Demin: “I did feel like I can’t shoot anymore because I got—I got biceps now. And maybe I even can do this challenge with the egg that we did in the middle of the season with the—with the Nets. You remember right here, the one challenge I’m not going to be able to do, I don’t even have enough biceps…”
00:01:48 – 00:04:15 is a montage.
04:16| Egor Demin: “Okay, we are here at the studio right now and we about to record an episode for 2K with my guy Michael Porter Jr. It’s going to be fun.”
The biggest criticism of Yaxel Lendeborg among fans and analysts has been his age. But after an impressive NBA Summer League stretch that ended with the rookie earning MVP honors and the Warriors winning the title, the dialogue has shifted to how much impact the 23-year-old forward will have his first season.
The former Michigan Wolverine reportedly even has said that Warriors coach Steve Kerr has told him there’s a possibility that he could be a part of the starting rotation when the 2026-27 NBA season starts, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“I asked him about his early conversations with Steve Kerr, and he mentioned, ‘Hey, you know, Steve has a history of not playing rookies,’ but basically said, you know, he’s different, and Steve Kerr’s already told him he might start,” Slater said on “NBA Today” on Thursday (h/t TheNBABase/X).
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg says Steve Kerr already told him he might start next season, per @anthonyVslater
"I asked him about his early conversations with Steve Kerr, and he mentioned, 'Hey, you know, Steve has a history of not playing rookies,' but basically said, you… pic.twitter.com/47olAb9WOn
Lendeborg had mentioned the potential to start as early as his introductory press conference – but that was prior to LeBron James announcing he wouldn’t return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“The way that the team is looking now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, and maybe even start,” Lendeborg told media members on June 26.
Yaxel Lendeborg on his early conversations with Steve Kerr: “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.” pic.twitter.com/Vm1DXhkjUO
The 6-foot-9 forward played six games for the Warriors in summer league and averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 28.3 minutes per game. He also shot 35.7 percent from 3-point range.
The Warriors may not have added LeBron to their starting five, but Lendeborg could be just the guy they need to round out their lineup.
Future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James choosing the Philadelphia 76ers did more than shock the NBA. According to Dan Le Batard, it left people around the Miami Heat furious, confused and searching for an explanation.
Speaking on The Dan Le Batard Show, the longtime Miami broadcaster said he began receiving messages questioning how the 76ers convinced James to accept a two-year, $8 million contract—roughly half of what Miami was reportedly prepared to offer.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 24, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado NBAE via Getty Images
“The Heat are curious how it is that the Sixers did this,” Le Batard said, before suggesting Pablo Torre, famed investigative sports journalist, should start digging.
Then came the conspiracy theory.
Le Batard pointed toward Michael Rubin, the Fanatics CEO and former minority owner of the 76ers who remains close with Joel Embiid. Rubin sold his stake in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment in 2022, citing potential conflicts involving Fanatics’ expanding business in merchandise, trading cards and sports betting.
Michael Rubin is seen at the 3rd Fanatics Fest NYC Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock
Le Batard wondered aloud whether James’ arrival could provide enormous value surrounding a potential farewell tour. James was a key speaker at Fanatics Fest NYC earlier this month.
There is currently no reported evidence that Rubin or Fanatics provided James with any improper financial incentive. The theory was speculation, fueled largely by surprise that James accepted such a small contract and chose a team built around Embiid’s notoriously uncertain health.
Philadelphia’s official recruiting effort was extensive enough without any shadowy assistance.
ESPN reported that team president Mike Gansey remained in constant communication with James’ agent, Rich Paul, while Tyrese Maxey, Embiid and Jaylen Brown all contacted James directly. Maxey, who is also represented by Klutch Sports, reportedly played a particularly aggressive role.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro even joined the sales pitch after encountering James at a private New York club.
The lobbying worked. James chose Philadelphia over Miami, Cleveland, Golden State and Minnesota, giving the Sixers a loaded core featuring Maxey, Brown, Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley reacts during an introductory press conference for Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Miami apparently wants to know the exact details about how Philadelphia ultimately closed the deal.
Le Batard has supplied one very dramatic possibility.
Whether there is anything behind it—or it is simply South Florida struggling to accept rejection—is another matter.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Utah Jazz looks on against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets continue to fill out their roster before the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season, as it was announced today that they have signed free agent forward/center Oscar Tshiebwe.
OFFICIAL: The Rockets today announced they have signed free agent forward/center Oscar Tshiebwe.
He spent his rookie season as a two-way player with Indiana in 2023-24 and the past two seasons on a two-way contract with Utah. In 49 career games with seven starts, Tshiebwe has… pic.twitter.com/jz1aHvRQNe
The 6’8” big man from the Congo went to high school in Pennsylvania and was a four-star recruit heading into college. He played for both West Virginia University and later Kentucky, where he was named the Sporting News National Player of the Year and the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2022.
He went undrafted but later signed two-way deals with the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz. His best season in the NBA came in the 2024-2025 season, when he averaged 7.6 points and 8.7 boards in 18.2 minutes per night for Utah.
He’s also been a monster in the G League, averaging 15.4 points and 17.3 rebounds across 64 G League games. Those are some serious rebounding numbers at that level.
He’s obviously great on the boards, fitting in the Ime Udoka mold, as well as a rugged defender and a strong inside finisher, however, he is more of a traditional big man than a modern one, in that he doesn’t shoot threes and has limited switching ability onto perimeter players.
The terms of Tshiebwe’s contract have not yet been released, but it could be a two-way or exhibit 10, which gives the Rockets the chance to convert his contract to a standard one.
And it seems that he could be on board as Steven Adams insurance. Adams was Houston’s best rebounder last season and one of the keys to their second-chance offensive philosophy (if you can call it that), and when he went down, the team suffered in multiple ways. And then it appeared that Clint Capela was no longer able to fill that role for an extended period. Tshiebwe could also be a replacement for Clint Capela. Now Capela signed a three-year, fully-guaranteed deal before last season, but the team could include him in trade talks if they are looking to move on from Capela.
Either way, this player is an Ime guy through and through, and I’ll let you all decided if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Welcome aboard.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Joel Embiid #21 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game on December 7, 2025 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This is going to take some getting used to. Typing out that headline, it still didn’t feel real. LeBron James is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. It goes without saying that the entire Philadelphia region has been in a state of celebration since the news broke. Here are some of the best reactions to the Sixers signing one of the best players of all time.
Tyrese Maxey, also a Rich Paul client, could barely contain himself on his Instagram story. He captioned the video of his celebration, “I feel like Coach Cal,” in reference to his college coach John Calipari. It’s an appropriate feeling for Maxey, who was very involved in the recruiting process, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Safe to say Tyrese Maxey is hype to be playing with Bron 😂
VJ Edgecombe celebrated by recreating a famous LeBron meme. Like so many Sixers fans, he is smiling through it all and can’t believe this is his life. Jabari Walker didn’t exactly recreate it, but he had a similar reaction. Jaylen Brown once again tweeted #ThrowTheBallUp, which will surely be printed on a gazillion T-Shirts between now and the start of the season.
VJ Edgecombe, after growing up watching LeBron James and the Miami Heat — on TV more than any other team in The Bahamas — with a hell of an Instagram story: pic.twitter.com/E70Kt6pVal
Dominick Barlow was out golfing when he heard the news of James’ decision, which is fitting since how good the golf scene was in each city did reportedly play a factor in where LeBron would go. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has already invited LeBron out for a round.
July 24 has already been declared LeBron James Day in the state of Pennsylvania according to governor Josh Shapiro. He had a certificate and everything ready to be posted within minutes of James’ signing being reported. Septa also tweeted that “B is for Bron,” so we’ll have to see if the Broad Street Line officially gets renamed.
LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY.
By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan… I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY.
Meanwhile, the Queen of Philadelphia, South Carolina Women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley tweeted out a video in celebration. The fact that she could rock a black LeBron James jersey on the sideline is a real possibility now. What a world.
Sep 24, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) look at a photo by team photographer Barry Gossage during Media Day at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As we settle into the post-Summer League world and prepare for the next couple of months, it’s time to fill the hours (and the pixelated pages) with speculation, analysis, over/under win-total discussions, and predictions. The Phoenix Suns, after a year in which they exceeded expectations, have given us plenty to ponder until October. From lineup combinations to developmental opportunities, there is much to hypothesize about.
I thought a good place to start would be extensions. Because that’s a fun topic, right? Future money and how it could affect future decisions. Projected salary caps, what will the luxury tax line be in 2029, and what will Khaman Malauch’s salary be in 2030? Oh my. Fun stuff!
Facetiousness aside, it’s something that I’ve continually found myself exploring, seeing as Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks are extension-eligible this offseason. Understanding the paths forward, given the interesting salary numbers both might incur, provides a clearer picture of the balancing act ahead. So why not build out the possibilities, see how they affect our short- and long-term cap sheet, and explore the decisions that lie ahead for the organization? The thought exercise sparks an interesting conversation relative to what you could do and what you should do.
This was the subject of this week’s Suns Reacts Survey, and the results are in. 40% of the community prefers the team offer an extension only to Dillon Brooks, and 30% believe no extensions should be provided to either Brooks or Bridges.
Now that the graphic has been made, it is time for a deep dive into this subject that deserves exploration.
None of what I am about to explore factors in Jalen Green, who becomes extension-eligible on October 1. That introduces an entirely different set of numbers into the equation, disrupting the ecosystem. We’ll cross that bridge when we get closer to it, hopefully with a better understanding of where the Suns’ long-term cap sheet stands based on whether Bridges or Brooks have received extensions by then.
To understand the full picture, we first need to look at where the Suns are today and project where the salary cap, luxury tax, and apron thresholds could be over the next several seasons.
Let’s start with the now. When you look at Phoenix’s five-year cap sheet, the team currently carries approximately $216.8 million in salary and is hard-capped at the second apron. Simply put, the Suns cannot exceed the $222 million second apron this season. The encouraging part is that the front office has operated astutely enough to preserve some flexibility, leaving roughly $5.2 million of room beneath that threshold if it’s needed during the season.
Phoenix Suns Five-Year Cap Sheet
Now, let’s look to the future. One thing that’s difficult to project is how much the salary cap will increase from year to year. When the NBA’s new television deals entered the picture, the assumption was that the cap would rise at the maximum allowable rate of 10%. It increased only 6.7% from summer 2025 to 2026, rising at a much more conservative pace.
That’s one of the reasons the projected value of Devin Booker’s contract continues to fluctuate. People often say, “He’ll be making $75 million in 2029”, but that’s not how the contract works. He’ll earn 36% of whatever the salary cap is that season. If the $165 million cap established for the summer of 2026 were to compound annually at 6.7%, the cap would reach roughly $200.4 million by the 2029-30 season. That would put Booker’s salary at approximately $72.2 million. So there is no world in which he is making $75 million, and if he does, it means the Suns still have essentially the same wiggle room they have now, as he’s making 35.1% of the cap in 2026-27.
Sorry. Back on track. I had to sidetrack once again to remind people that, while the Booker extension appears massive on the surface, it’s all relative, mannnnnn. Whether the production meets the numbers is a different conversation.
One challenge is projecting these future numbers for this thought exercise, since we’re projecting how extensions will affect future cap sheets and decisions based on those cap sheets. Small changes in the cap have meaningful downstream effects, and those differences matter when you’re trying to forecast future payrolls.
For this exercise, we need to establish a baseline. I’ve opted to split the difference and project annual cap increases of 5%. That would place the salary cap at approximately $191 million in 2029-30, with Booker earning roughly $68.8 million that season. That’s the foundation we’ll use moving forward.
Projecting the first and second aprons from there becomes its own mathematical exercise. Those thresholds are derived from the luxury tax line, and the luxury tax formula is anything but simple. It incorporates leaguewide benefits, projected player compensation, escrow, and several other accounting adjustments. The NBA doesn’t publish a straightforward equation because of its complexity.
What we have seen over the past few seasons is the luxury tax line landing at roughly 21.5% above the salary cap. Using that as the baseline, here’s a reasonable projection for what the luxury tax, first apron, and second apron could look like over the next several seasons.
Year
Projected Cap (5% Increase)
~Luxury Tax
~First Apron
~Second Apron
2027-28
$ 173,258,766
$ 210,509,401
$ 218,009,401
$ 229,888,401
2028-29
$ 181,921,705
$ 221,034,871
$ 228,534,871
$ 240,413,871
2029-30
$ 191,017,790
$ 232,086,615
$ 239,586,615
$ 251,465,615
2029-31
$ 200,568,680
$ 243,690,946
$ 251,190,946
$ 263,069,946
Why is that important? Because once we begin plugging potential Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks extensions into the cap sheet, we’ll get a much clearer picture of how they affect the Suns’ financial future. It gives us an idea of where Phoenix could ultimately land relative to the luxury tax and apron thresholds as the organization attempts to build a competitive roster across two different timelines.
One important distinction is that the contracts for Bridges and Brooks would not be tied to the salary cap the way Devin Booker’s is. Booker’s extension is based on a percentage of the cap. Bridges’ and Brooks’ extensions would instead be structured with fixed annual raises of either 5% or 8%, depending on the type of extension they sign.
In Bridges’ case, the Suns can offer only 5% annual raises if they extend him within six months of acquiring him. Once that six-month restriction expires, they can offer up to four years with 8% annual raises. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about what a Miles Bridges extension could look like. On the high end, if Phoenix were to extend him before January 13, the six-month anniversary of the trade, the maximum extension would be three years, $86.3 million.
When you plug that contract into the Suns’ five-year cap sheet, here’s what it looks like.
Phoenix Suns Five-Year Cap Sheet + Bridges
As you can see, the team sits at approximately $203.5 million in salary for next season, assuming the Suns exercise the team options on Khaman Maluach, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro, and no major trades occur before then.
Based on our projections, that payroll would place Phoenix roughly $5 million below the luxury tax line and approximately $13 million below the first apron. At that point, the Suns would still have only 12 players under contract, leaving plenty of flexibility to continue filling out the roster. As the projections move into the 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons, the overall payroll naturally declines because fewer players are under contract. So, on the surface, a Miles Bridges extension makes sense, both in the short term and potentially over the long term as well.
But here’s where things get tricky. The Dillon Brooks extension.
There’s no doubt that, if the shift in the culture and identity of the Phoenix Suns were an earthquake, Dillon Brooks would be the epicenter. What he brought to Phoenix last season was something few of us expected. Jalen Green arrived as the headline acquisition. The draft brought an influx of young talent. Dillon Brooks felt like an afterthought.
He quickly changed that perception. His hustle, grit, and aggressiveness came to define this team. For an organization with so many young players entering its ecosystem, he’s the ideal veteran to have in the locker room, teaching them and molding them to play the same brand of basketball. Phoenix Suns basketball.
But he’s also 30. If the Suns were to offer him the maximum extension available, he would be 34 when that contract expires. Brooks is eligible for the larger veteran extension, one that can begin at 140% of his current salary and include 8% annual raises. That puts the maximum value at approximately $125 million over four years.
So what does that look like when you plug it into the cap sheet?
Phoenix Suns Five-Year Cap Sheet + Bridges & Brooks
And now we’ve arrived at the part of this thought exercise that becomes truly interesting. Because if the Phoenix Suns extend both Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks, using the maximum figures we’ve outlined, three years for Bridges and four years for Brooks, you begin to see why this becomes such an intriguing cap puzzle.
With two roster spots still unfilled on this hypothetical team next season, the Suns would already sit at approximately $231.3 million in payroll. Based on our projections, the second apron would be roughly $229.9 million. They’re already over it.
That immediately forces other decisions. Do you exercise Ryan Dunn’s team option, or do you save roughly $5 million by letting him walk? Does Luke Kennard exercise his $6.4 million player option, and if he does, does that contract suddenly feel expensive? That’s something we won’t know until we see him play this season.
That’s the short-term challenge. The long-term challenge is even more fascinating because the Suns are operating on two timelines. On one, you’re paying approximately $134.9 million in 2028-29 to Devin Booker, Miles Bridges, Dillon Brooks, and Collin Gillespie alone. At the same time, the next era of Suns basketball is beginning to arrive, and those extension decisions start coming into focus. Both Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming will enter the final year of their rookie contracts during the 2029 offseason.
If the Suns don’t extend them beforehand, both would be headed toward restricted free agency. Phoenix can negotiate an extension with Maluach as early as next summer, while Fleming becomes extension-eligible in the summer of 2028. Why the different timelines? Because they’re on different types of contracts. Maluach is on a rookie scale deal, meaning a maximum rookie extension would likely start at 25% of the salary cap. Using our projections, that would equate to roughly $47.8 million in 2029-30.
Add that figure to the approximately $172.7 million already committed to Booker, Bridges, Brooks, Gillespie, and Koa Peat, and the Suns would be carrying roughly $220.5 million in payroll. That still leaves them about $19.1 million below the projected first apron.
Fleming presents a different equation. As the 31st overall pick, he isn’t on a rookie scale contract. Instead, he signed a four-year second-round contract that runs through the 2028-29 season. If the Suns don’t extend him before then, he’ll become a restricted free agent. If they do extend him, the organization has much more flexibility because of the type of contract he signed coming into the league.
If Fleming develops into a quality rotation forward, a reasonable projection might be around $18 million annually. If he becomes a high-level starter, that number could easily climb into the $24 million range.
For this exercise, let’s use the $18 million projection. Now the Suns find themselves approximately $1.5 million below the projected first apron and roughly $13 million below the second apron. Here’s what that cap sheet would look like.
So what does all of this mean? What do we actually take away from it?
I think the first takeaway is that the Suns have to be incredibly responsible with how they approach extensions for Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks. Brian Gregory did a stellar job this offseason in acquiring players on what amounted to hometown discounts. Mark Williams, Collin Gillespie, and Jordan Goodwin all accepted contracts viewed as below-market value to remain in Phoenix.
There is optionality with Miles Bridges, both in what the Suns can offer and when they can offer it. If the Suns ultimately decide to extend Bridges (and I believe they probably will, given that they surrendered an unprotected 2033 first-round pick to acquire him), the contract needs to come in on the lower end of the range. The ripple effects extend well beyond the next couple of seasons. The same logic applies to Dillon Brooks. The length and number need to be calculated so as not to hinder future flexibility or negate the team’s ability to retain youth. Everything I’ve laid out here represents the most expensive outcome for Phoenix and the best possible financial outcome for the players. Reality will likely land somewhere in the middle.
Even so, all of these decisions have to be viewed alongside another one that is still approaching. Jalen Green. The Suns still have to decide whether to extend him, and that decision will come soon.
That’s really what this thought exercise comes down to. Short-term versus long-term understanding of financial flexibility, viability, and responsibility. Do you invest heavily in the veterans who currently define your culture? Or do you preserve flexibility for the moment when 2030 arrives, the dead cap finally disappears, and Devin Booker’s contract potentially comes off the books as well? Or do you do both, knowing that depth is needed to achieve the ultimate goal of winning? Keep in mind that Booker becomes extension eligible again in the summer of 2028, another significant decision the front office will have to navigate.
Much of this will ultimately be determined by how these players perform, and it’s far too early to predict those outcomes. But today, right now, the extension decisions surrounding Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks could have ripple effects that extend well into the future. It’s reasonable and prudent to work through those scenarios in an effort to define who the Suns want to become, understand where they could be financially, and recognize how closely those two things are tied together.
Ultimately, this is the balancing act the Suns have created for themselves. They have built a roster with a clearer identity, but maintaining that identity will require discipline. The next few years won’t be defined by one massive decision, but by a series of smaller ones that determine whether Phoenix can sustain competitiveness while allowing its young core to grow. The numbers matter, but so does knowing which players are worth building around when the next window opens.
Now comes the fun part, at least for me. I’ve spent plenty of time analyzing the possibilities and laying out the different scenarios. But what would I do? How would I navigate this situation, and why?
I’ll start by saying I believe both players should receive extensions. The reason is simple. I’d rather have them as assets than risk losing them for nothing.
That is especially true in the case of Miles Bridges, considering the Suns surrendered a 2033 first-round pick to acquire him. If you don’t extend him, there’s a real chance that he leaves with nothing coming back in return. By extending him, you preserve optionality. Either Bridges produces at a high level and helps elevate the team, or you retain the flexibility to move him later if the right opportunity presents itself. From a long-term asset management standpoint, extending him makes sense.
The same logic applies to Dillon Brooks. The Suns didn’t surrender a first-round pick to acquire him, but his value extends well beyond the box score. He has established himself as a culture setter, elevating the competitiveness and professionalism of those around him. If the time ever comes to move on from Brooks, those qualities become part of his trade value. A young team with cap space looking for veteran leadership would have every reason to be interested.
The other reason I’d extend both players is that depth matters, especially for a team in the Suns’ current financial position. It’s difficult to build quality depth when you’re carrying significant dead cap. Yes, we all want to see the younger players receive more opportunities to develop. But that development has to happen responsibly.
If Bridges and Brooks aren’t extended, the young players won’t simply be stepping into their roles, they’ll be stepping into their minutes and responsibilities. And the bigger question becomes, who’s backing them up? Are you asking your entire youth movement to carry the load, hoping every one of those players develops into the kind of reliable rotation pieces that Bridges and Brooks already are? And what happens if they don’t? At that point, your depth is built primarily from veteran minimum contracts. Maybe you have access to a mid-level exception here and there, but that’s still a difficult way to build a complete roster.
If you move on from Bridges and Brooks now, you’re placing an enormous amount of pressure on the shoulders of your young core before they’ve proven they’re ready for it. That’s a risky bet. And if they fail, the Suns fail. There’s no safety net. There’s no consolation prize. Phoenix doesn’t have a collection of lottery picks waiting to soften the blow over the next several years. The organization has to remain competitive while its young players develop, and veteran depth is a critical part of making that happen.
So my move would be to extend both Bridges and Brooks because of the optionality they provide.
The second part of the equation is the money. As noted above, I outlined what I consider the worst-case scenario from a salary-cap perspective. Those numbers are obviously the best-case scenario for Bridges and Brooks because they’re maximizing their earnings. But the Suns have to be smart and strategic. They need to offer contracts that reflect each player’s value while remaining fiscally responsible. Because if you operate at those maximum figures, you don’t leave yourself much flexibility on the margins.
With Bridges, I’d wait. Not until the full six-month mark, but long enough to see how he fits with the team. How does the chemistry look? How does he complement Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the rest of the roster? It’s difficult to hand out an extension based solely on what he accomplished in Charlotte. Context matters.
He spent the past few seasons on a Hornets team that was frequently without LaMelo Ball and consistently relying on young lottery picks. He wasn’t exactly operating in an environment built for success. So when people project his numbers forward, remember this will be the first time he’s played alongside talent like Booker, Green, and Brooks. He has experience with Mark Williams, but the rest of the situation is entirely different.
At some point, you’ll have to make a decision. I’d let the first couple months of the season play out, evaluate the fit, then try to negotiate a team-friendly three-year extension in the neighborhood of $75 million.
As for Brooks? I’d get it done now. There’s no reason to play games. We know exactly who he is. About 85% of the time, you love everything he brings to your team. The other 15% of the time, you’re asking yourself what in the world he was thinking. That’s the Dillon Brooks experience. Even with those occasional frustrating moments, he’s become the heartbeat of the Suns’ culture. Down the road, the organization may eventually decide to move on as the young players continue to develop, but that’s another reason to keep his contract reasonable. It should reward what he brings while remaining attractive to other teams if a trade ever becomes necessary.
Four years and $125 million feels like too much. Three years and $75 million feels much more appropriate for the player he is and the role he fills. That’s right, give him the same contract you would to Miles Bridges. It’d look like this:
Year
Salary
2027-28
$23,148,148
2028-29
$25,000,000
2029-30
$26,851,852
Total Extension
$75,000,000
If both of those scenarios play out, the Suns would save roughly $8 million in cap space during the 2029–30 season. That’s meaningful flexibility for a team trying to thread the needle between competing now and preparing for what’s next.
We’ll see how the Suns ultimately navigate this extension cycle, especially with Jalen Green’s future looming as another major financial decision. But that’s how I’d approach it.
None of these decisions exist in a vacuum. Every extension is really a bet on the next three or four years of the franchise, balancing today’s competitiveness against tomorrow’s flexibility. That’s why I’d prioritize optionality above everything else. Keep good players under contract. Preserve assets whenever possible. Avoid creating holes that are difficult to fill. The Suns don’t need to be perfect with every contract they hand out. They simply need to give themselves as many paths to success as possible, and that’s exactly what these extensions would accomplish.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer and the 76ers' new president of basketball operations go back decades — all the way back to their high school days in Northeast Ohio, when James and the future West Virginia standout initially emerged as regional basketball stars. They later crossed paths in the NBA during James' two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers before Gansey was hired by the Sixers to replace Daryl Morey this offseason.
How much that familiarity played into James picking Philadelphia remains a bit of a mystery, but the two are not strangers.
Here's a look at the longstanding connection in the aftermath of James deciding to join Gansey and the Philadelphia 76ers in NBA free agency:
LeBron James, Mike Gansey shared Northeast Ohio basketball roots
Gansey, 43, and James, 41, have a history together as teenagers, with their careers as high school basketball stars in Northeast Ohio overlapping for a couple years.
Gansey played for Olmsted Falls High School in the southwest suburbs of Cleveland, about 50 miles from where James went to school at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. Gansey finished second in Ohio Mr. Basketball voting for the 2000-01 season as a senior, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal. James, then a sophomore, won the award for the first time and subsequently was named Ohio Mr. Basketball his final two years of high school as well.
While home from playing overseas in Europe during his professional career, Gansey attended a Cavaliers game with his brother and reportedly encountered James while there to speak with other players and training partners he knew.
“We were probably 100 feet from where LeBron and his people were talking,” Gansey's brother, Steven, said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Someone said, ‘Ganz is over there.’ And LeBron totally walked the opposite way of where he was going, and went to dap up Mike, to say, ‘What’s up, hey man, how you doing?’ Just a quick hello.
“It just shows you the respect," Steven Gansey added. "And I was like, ‘Man, Mike, he really walked 100 feet over here, and just dapped you, and walked directly right back. That’s pretty cool.’ And Mike’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, he’s a great guy,’ and that was it. I’ll always remember that.”
Photo links LeBron James and Mike Gansey as Ohio stars
Gansey's brother recently posted an old photo featuring James and Gansey in their high school uniforms standing next to one another for a photoshoot with other top basketball players in Northeast Ohio at the time.
How Mike Gansey's Cavaliers tenure connected him to LeBron James
Before being hired by the 76ers to replace Morey in June 2026, Gansey worked within the Cleveland Cavaliers organization for 15 years. He had spent the past four seasons as the Cavaliers' general manager and also had a five-season stint as the GM of the Cleveland Charge, the franchise's D-League affiliate at the time.
It means Gansey was around the organization for the entirety of James' second run with the Cavaliers beginning in 2011, including the team's historic 2016 NBA championship.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles before the game on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James finally made up his mind. One of the best players in history will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers after taking a substantial amount of time exploring his options. The free agent do-it-all forward also considered the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, going by his announcement, but decided Philly was his best chance at competing for a championship.
James is not the best player in the world anymore, but the NBA was awaiting his decision to finalize free agency, which shows he’s culturally relevant. Despite his decline, he’s also still good enough to change the landscape of the league. With that in mind, let’s explore what his signing means for the Spurs.
LeBron wanted nothing to do with the still scarier Western Conference
There are probably multiple reasons why James picked Philadelphia. Unlike Cleveland and Miami, the Sixers had a glaring hole at power forward that James can plug immediately without having to worry about fit concerns, as he would have playing next to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Evan Mobley. As we learned from the infamous Rich Paul whiteboard podcast, he loves Tyrese Maxey. Even if Joel Embiid misses time, which is a given at this point, the addition of Jaylen Brown gives them enough firepower to survive the regular season and likely be a high seed.
There’s a lot to like about the on-court fit and the team’s chances to compete. Especially in the East.
Had he landed with the Cavaliers or Heat, it would have been unfair to suggest James’ decision had anything to do with the power imbalance of the conferences. After all, he has a history with both franchises. Nothing tied him to Philadelphia, however. Rich Paul also had the Timberwolves and Nuggets on his whiteboard, as well as the Warriors, but they were quickly dismissed as long shots as LeBron focused on the three finalists, despite all three Western teams also having top-tier talent and two of them having a more recent record of ultimate success than their Eastern counterparts.
Now, the Knicks won the championship by coming out of the East and only took a small step backwards. The Pistons could be as dangerous as they were last season if they bring back Jalen Duren, and the two teams LeBron spurned will also be tough outs. The Pacers could be back in contention now that Tyrese Haliburton is healthy, and the Celtics and Kawhi-led Raptors are dangerous. The conference is deep and talented. It also doesn’t have the Thunder and Spurs, arguably the top two teams heading into next season.
James going East to a team he had no previous ties to seems to confirm what any rational observer suspected: The West is still the tougher conference, and the Thunder and Spurs are the scariest opponents. If other stars feel that way going forward, we might see others also move East, where the path to the Finals feels more realistic.
LeBron signing for the minimum could start a trend that could help cash-strapped contenders
Because James waited so long, there were not a lot of realistic landing spots that could offer him a high-dollar amount. He expressed that he was fine with signing for the minimum with a contender, even though he’s still clearly good enough to command a higher salary under normal circumstances. He went through with it, signing a two-year minimum deal with a player option, giving the 76ers a major injection of talent for cheap.
In the era of the repeater tax and the second apron, getting quality players on below-market-value deals is a necessity to field a contender with depth. The best way to do so is to rely on players on rookie deals. The Thunder and the Spurs are doing exactly that. Still, it’s hard to know which young players are going to be ready to contribute in the playoffs. If veterans who can still play take a page out of LeBron’s book and are willing to sign for the minimum or close to it to contend, there would be another source of cheap, productive talent to fill out the rotations of the championship-level teams that struggle with the limiting rules of team-building the collective bargaining agreement has established.
Now, it’s important to note that LeBron is a special case. Very few players will reach age 41 while still being as productive as he still is, and none have made as much money over their career as James has. It’s not like LeBron was giving the Lakers discounts when he was 37. But the biggest star of the last 30 years, and founder of an agency known for always going for the max payout, removing the stigma of being a minimum player on a team that can give him minutes and the chance to contend, could lead others to make similar decisions. If LeBron’s decision results in success, maybe guys like Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler follow suit next offseason.
Would either of those guys, or others, as they age out, pick the Spurs? Who knows. It might feel like extreme ring chasing to join true contenders, but guys with a slightly lower pedigree could make the choice, helping bring depth to teams that are almost forced by the rules to sacrifice top-end salary for it.
