The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off the coup of the NBA offseason, signing all-time leading scorer LeBron James in free agency before July was out. The move came weeks after Philadelphia had already acquired Jaylen Brown on July 1, instantly creating one of the most talented line-ups in the league on paper.
Pairing James and Brown with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey gives the Sixers a championship-caliber core that has vaulted them among the Eastern Conference favorites. James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, and said at media day on September 28 that he did not leave his family to lose in the second round. The pressure now shifts to the coaching staff to forge chemistry before the playoffs.
James' departure forced his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to pivot toward the future with a big swing for Utah center Walker Kessler. As camps opened this week, the league's biggest question is simple: will LeBron fit in Philly?