LeBron James signs with the 76ers EMERGENCY POD

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily – LeBron James signs with the 76ers (Emergency Pod, July 24, 2026)

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Episode Overview

This emergency episode of The Athletic NBA Daily features hosts Zena Cato, Dave DeFore, and Esper Henney reacting in real-time to the stunning, just-announced news: LeBron James has signed a two-year deal (veteran minimum, $8 million total with a player option in year two) with the Philadelphia 76ers. The conversation covers the shock factor, narrative angles, basketball fit, front office moves, and the ripple effects throughout the NBA. It's a fast-paced, insightful, and sometimes humorous roundtable that digs into the impact, expectations, and wild possibilities stemming from LeBron’s new chapter.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Reactions & Narrative Angle

• The news hit the team early that morning, with the announcement coming via Rich Paul to Shams Charania. Even Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro has declared July 24 "LeBron James Day" ([02:52]).
• Initial shock prevails: “I’m still pretty stunned by this... The Sixers, legitimately, they make the least narrative sense” (Dave DeFore, [04:52]), highlighting how unexpected this landing spot is compared to Cleveland, Miami, or Golden State.
• Panelists agree the move is less about money or family, and more about legacy. “If he were to help the Sixers win a championship, it would be the ultimate benchmark, the ultimate high note to leave off on for LeBron James.” (Esper Henney, [04:17]). It’s about capping his career with a title for a drought-ridden franchise, echoing his return-to-Cleveland move.

2. LeBron’s Own Words

• LeBron’s tweet is dissected: "I’m not going for money, clearly I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? ... I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team.” (Zena quoting LeBron, [07:06]-[07:20])
• Hosts riff: “I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.” (LeBron tweet, [07:21])

3. Basketball Fit — On the Court

• The core starting lineup is projected: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jalen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid ([08:17]).
  • “That’s a lot of on-ball talent... that’s pretty good once you get to the playoffs. It's the getting to the playoffs part as far as LeBron and Joel Embiid go.” (Dave, [08:46])
• The panel debates the fit:
  • Minnesota would have offered a cleaner on-court fit; going to Philly is riskier ([08:11-08:16]).
  • Jalen Brown’s durability, Maxey’s flexibility, and new signings like Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons help create depth.
  • Depth and health remain concerns, especially with Embiid’s knee and LeBron’s age ([10:08-10:57]).
  • “This is, like, the boldest move of LeBron’s career, because he’s betting on a house that houses Joel Embiid.” (Esper, [10:25])

4. Fit Speculation & Trade Rumors

• Some (including listeners/writers) float a possible Embiid-for-Anthony Davis trade for a better fit ([11:02]-[12:01]), but the hosts agree that would be “messy”.
• Additional reporting: LeBron lobbied for big trades with other teams (Kyrie to Cleveland, AD to Warriors) but talks fizzled, with Philly flying under the radar ([12:14]-[12:57]).

5. Tactics and Roles

• The starting five’s combined usage rate is extremely high (146.4%), which sparks questions about spacing and playmaking ([13:44]).
• LeBron is forecasted as the best point guard and facilitator on the roster: “Your crunch time... you’ve got one of the best basketball decision makers in history... I would much rather have the ball in LeBron’s hands than any of those other dudes.” (Dave, [15:15]-[16:00])
• Shooting and ball handling won’t be the problem: “The one area that a LeBron James team usually has that this team does not have is defense. They are not a good defensive team.” (Esper, [16:43])

6. Defensive Concerns

• Defense is identified as the major Achilles’ heel:
  • “With this Sixers team, it’s like Joel Embiid has taken a clear step back defensively. Jalen Brown... solid on ball, not off ball. Maxey and Edgecombe are small. That’s the part that is a question for me...” (Esper, [18:02])
  • “That’s a valid concern, especially come playoff time.” (Dave, [18:36])
• Bench additions (Dean Wade, Ariel Huckporty, Don Barlow, Adam Bona) add depth but won’t move the needle much defensively.

7. Front Office Moves & Context

• Praise for Sixers front office: “Mike Gansey... trades for Jalen Brown, trades for Paul George, signs LeBron, signs Dean Wade, signs Anthony Simons, loses only two firsts. That’s a pretty good start.” (Esper, [37:07]; see also [20:39], [38:10])

8. Ripple Effects & Eastern Conference Power Rankings

• Where does Philly stack up now?
  • Consensus: Knicks are the clear #1, then a second tier with Philly, Toronto (especially if Kawhi signs), Boston, Cleveland, Indiana, and others. “On paper, there’s so much talent there. If everybody’s healthy, it’s going to be fun.” (Dave, [49:39])
  • High ceiling but low floor: “If everything goes right... they end up winning a championship... but the floor can also bottom out... a play-in team if things go poorly.” (Esper, [29:09])
• Vegas gives Sixers the third-best odds in the NBA, best in the East at 7-to-1 ([24:01]).

9. Ripple Effects on Other Teams

• Heat expected to pursue DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal ([32:00]-[32:33]).
• Warriors pivot to retaining Draymond Green and seeking low-cost reinforcements ([33:07]-[33:53]).
• Other Eastern contenders (Raptors, Pacers, Cavs, Celtics) assessed as on similar footing, with the Knicks a rung above ([22:00]-[28:29]).

10. LeBron’s Historic "Hedge" Move

• Several hosts point out this is a “perfect hedge signing”: “If he wins the title... legendary. If he loses, it’s Philly baby.” (Andrew, [38:39])
  • “There is no way to lose. Because if you lose, it’s the Sixers. If you win—oh my gosh.” (Andrew, [40:15])
• Discussion of Philly fan expectations and NBA-wide perceptions of the Sixers as an emotional, possibly divisive team (Dave, [41:49]).

11. Fun & Notable Moments

• “This is like, like if you play a 2K dynasty and you get to that third year, everything is weird.” (Dave, [50:14])
• Nicknaming the new-look Sixers: “It’s a weird version of the Heatles... Sixers Fleetwood Mac? There’s a lot of drama.” (Esper, [42:45])
• Speculation about LeBron commuting by train or helicopter from New York to Philly ([34:14]).
• Extended sidebar on panelists’ unread emails and modern communication overload ([45:04]).

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Notable Quotes

• On the Move’s Explosive Narrative Power:

  • “This is... the boldest move of LeBron’s career, because he’s betting on a house that houses Joel Embiid.” — Esper, [10:25]
  • “It is the ultimate superstar signing hedge in the history of the NBA. Because he can do no wrong.” — Andrew, [40:01]

• On Defensive Issues:

  • “The one area that a LeBron James team usually has that this team does not have is defense...” — Esper, [16:43]
  • “That’s my concern. ... Once you get to the playoffs... the fit is pretty good, except for on the defensive end.” — Dave, [21:21]

• On LeBron’s Mindset (via his tweet):

  • “I’m not going for money, clearly I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?... I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team.” — LeBron/quoted by Zena, [07:06]-[07:20]

• On Legacy:

  • “If he were to help the Sixers win a championship, it would be the ultimate benchmark, the ultimate high note to leave off on for LeBron James.” — Esper, [04:17]

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Key Timestamps

• [01:33] – Start of actual discussion, Zena introduces LeBron-to-Philly news
• [02:22] – Contract details and context
• [03:24] – Why Philly over other teams?
• [04:17] – Legacy and narrative impact explored
• [06:29] – LeBron’s tweet and announcement read/discussed
• [08:17] – Projected starting lineup and basketball fit
• [10:25] – Health and durability concerns
• [13:44] – Combined usage rate and spacing issue
• [16:43] – Defensive weaknesses analysis
• [20:39] – Credit to Philly front office
• [22:00] – Eastern Conference power rankings
• [24:01] – Betting odds, skepticism
• [29:09] – High ceiling/low floor dynamic
• [33:07] – Warriors, Heat, ripple effects
• [38:39] – “Perfect hedge” nature of the move
• [41:49] – Anticipation of Philly being NBA’s most divisive team
• [50:06] – Final thoughts: new faces in new places, wild NBA “2K simulation” season ahead
• [50:27] – Episode close: “Two years, $8 million, he’s not doing it for the money...”

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Conclusion / Takeaways

• LeBron’s move to Philly is as much about narrative and legacy as it is about basketball, with the potential to be a storybook ending—or a risky gamble on fragile health and chemistry.
• On-court fit has both tantalizing upside (playmaking, firepower) and glaring red flags (defense, usage, injuries).
• The Sixers have a sky-high championship ceiling—if Embiid and LeBron defy their injury histories—but could easily slide down the East if the health dice don’t roll their way.
• The move disrupts the NBA landscape: instant questions for Miami, Golden State, Cleveland, and a hyper-competitive East where every game will matter.
• For LeBron: “championship or bust” remains the operative phrase. But in Philly? The story could end in either heartbreak or legend.

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Summary by The Athletic NBA Daily – July 24, 2026 (Emergency LeBron Pod)

[End of content summary]

Transcript

[Zena Cato]

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[Dave DeFore]

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[Esper HENNEY]

Can you hear that? That silence is the sound of a $3,000 vet bill. Because you don't have Lemonade Pet insurance, your dog just snuck away to swallow your phone charger, which will land him at the vet. Thankfully, Lemonade Pet could save you up to 90% on vet bills. And the earlier you sign up, the more it could cover for your puppy or kitten. But in the meantime, if you hear

[Andrew]

this,

[Esper HENNEY]

you should probably go check on what your puppy is up to. Get a [e-mail] pet.

[Zena Cato]

Good morning, everyone. The news we have all been waiting for has officially dropped. LeBron James has found a team and it is in the city of brotherly love. Yes, everyone, welcome to NBA Daily Emergency Pod. LeBron James is going to Philly. It's about four hours old maybe by the time. Dave, I know you're just. You're just catching up on this thing. We're about an hour behind you.

[Dave DeFore]

I don't look at my phone in the morning, guys.

[Esper HENNEY]

I called you eight times. You went to voicemail eight times.

[Dave DeFore]

Honestly, you legitimately. I have missed calls from you and Andrew for the last few hours.

[Zena Cato]

My camera won't even handle this news right now.

[Dave DeFore]

Okay, that do not disturb mode on the iPhone is.

[Zena Cato]

It's real.

[Esper HENNEY]

It's real.

[Dave DeFore]

It's great.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

All right, let's break this.

[Dave DeFore]

Two years real emergency.

[Zena Cato]

Yes. Right. Two years real emergency. Two years eight million with a player option in year two. He's getting the veteran minimum this year. That will make him the 8th highest player. 8 highest paid player on his own team, obviously. Remember, had $52.6 million with the Lakers down from that. Rich Paul dropped this news to Shams this morning. And. And Philadelphia.

[Esper HENNEY]

Rich Paul dropped this news to shop this morning. Thank you, Rich Paul. Thank you for your contributions.

[Zena Cato]

Well, anyway, it was reported to Rich Paul, I mean, by Rich Paul to Shams, apparently that's what was said. All right. Governor Shapiro in. Oh, man. Pennsylvania has officially declared July 24th LeBron James Day. So this is great. Friends, think about this. Let's just back up before we even get into the Philadelphia of it all, thinking about the teams that have missed out, obviously, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota, sure. But Cleveland, Cleveland. This was the team that we thought this man was going to Cleveland.

[Esper HENNEY]

This is not for you, that it

[Zena Cato]

made a lot of sense. And I just want to start with that. When you think about the cities that missed out on LeBron, why do you think he ended up with Philly as opposed to them?

[Esper HENNEY]

I think the main reaction that I have is, is that LeBron James wants a legacy championship. And what I mean by that is that part of his reaction, part of his decision making process, it was about a narrative. And you could say going back to Cleveland is a narrative. Going back and trying to win a championship for the Cavs is a narrative. But you know what would be even crazier? Being the guy to help Philadelphia snap their droughts. Because Rich Paul, if we go back to Rich Paul said so much. He said if the Knicks didn't win the championship, LeBron would already be in New York.

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[Esper HENNEY]

But they won. So I think part of his thought process was, what's the next best place I can go to to help them snap a streak, much like I did in Cleveland. And there is no city, no fan base, no NBA team that would relish an NBA championship more than the Philadelphia 76ers. If he were to do this, if he were to help the Sixers win a championship, it would be the ultimate benchmark, the ultimate high note to leave off on for LeBron James. I think that is what went into his decision making.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, I don't know. I'm still pretty stunned by this, because

[Esper HENNEY]

you're just waking up.

[Dave DeFore]

I mean, I've been up, but it's just not paying attention. The Sixers, legitimately, they make the least narrative sense. And we tend to think about LeBron as this narrator.

[Zena Cato]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

Everything in his life, like we talk about, he goes to LA because he wants to do movies. He goes back to Cleveland because he wants to win a title. Right. Even. Even going to Miami, it felt like it was part of a documentary series. This is one that is just a curveball.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, it is.

[Dave DeFore]

It's not. Right. It's. It wasn't predictable, in my opinion. When they started, when people started saying Philly was an option, I thought it was ridiculous.

[Esper HENNEY]

It's the most. It's the most surprising outcome out of all of them.

[Zena Cato]

It's the thing. Here's the thing. I actually, I like what you're talking about though, as in terms of even though it's not narrative in the sequence of the story of the King, it is a narrative that is a new one because. And it's the best narrative out of the ones that were available. If you go to Golden State, you're not and you win a championship, it's not going to be because you went to Golden State. It's just Golden State is Golden State and you were just an added figure in that. If you go to Miami, it's not because you are necessarily in Miami. Giannis is in Miami.

[Esper HENNEY]

You're the, you're the add on.

[Zena Cato]

Right. If you go to Cleveland, you already did that. So that's just like tapping back in to an old, old story. Right? Nobody wants to go back. Right. Nobody wants to go back in chapters. You want to make a new one. And so I think out of all of the narrative options for LeBron, this did make sense in terms of I can help a city overcome this hump. Overcome. And that's, that's a, that's a beautiful story.

[Esper HENNEY]

I agree with that.

[Zena Cato]

One that we did not consider was that important to LeBron. I do want to say, I want to set up really quickly for those of you who have not seen it just yet. LeBron James tweeted this morning, as he announced it at 8:30 Pacific this morning, his breakdown. And it's a, it's a multi tweet situation. And he mentioned he thought the season was ended. He really thought that he was going to finish. He needed some time to decide. And he mentioned that, you know, it's been that an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision. I'm not going for money, clearly I'm not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? And he said he still wants to sacrifice work grind and have a chance at the feeling of winning. And then he goes and finishes and says, I believe I can help the make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team.

[Esper HENNEY]

Boom.

[Zena Cato]

Which is exactly what S is referring to. And I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time. He says thank you LA Miami, I'll forever love. And he says northeast Ohio will always home. Cleveland couldn't even get the right grammatical breakdown to say thank you on the end. At the end of that tweet but that, that fits, I think, with exactly what, that's what you're saying. It's like, yeah, heck, we all just watch Odyssey, this journey home, but it's, it's a new journey for him. A new journey to a new legacy, a new story.

[Esper HENNEY]

Tell them I'm bringing it all. Is what Odysseus said when he.

[Andrew]

Yes.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, it's. This is from a, from a fit perspective. It's interesting. It's not as. To me, it's not as clean of a fit as it would be in some of the other places.

[Esper HENNEY]

I think Minnesota would have been on the ball.

[Dave DeFore]

Yes.

[Esper HENNEY]

Minnesota would have been the most clean fit. Right.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

That being said, a starting lineup, you know, when you get to the playoffs, the starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jalen Brown, LeBron James. Yeah. Joel Embiid. That's a lot of on ball talent. That's a lot of decision making talent. You've got some tough shot making in there. I mean, it's. That's pretty good once you get to the playoffs. It's the getting to the playoffs part as far as LeBron and, and Joel Embiid go.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

But from a basketball fit, I think that's, it's pretty good.

[Esper HENNEY]

I'll say this, I think having. And this is all part of the reason why trading for Jaylen Brown makes an immense amount of sense. And by the way, how funny is it that Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are on the same team after Jalen Brown said, very weird. I don't think Ronnie, I don't think

[Zena Cato]

Ronnie's not in this situation. Okay.

[Esper HENNEY]

It'd be funny if Bronnie somehow gets in there. But what a funny that we're in a simulation like those. These type of things make me believe that this is all a simulation. But LeBron in general, in Philly and Jalen Brown being acquired there, I think it is creating a floor for the Sixers that they didn't have last year. Jalen Brown was one of the most available stars in the league last year. His available, his ability to play games is one of the best parts about him. So I think if you're pitching the Sixers as a regular season team, it's Jalen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, BJ Edgecomb, they can kind of like hold down the fort. LeBron is going to miss games because he's old. Joel Embiid is going to miss games because of his knees. And you just bake in those times where they're going to miss Games. They've also added Dean Wade. They have. Who's the guard that they added? Anthony Simons is the guard that they've added, a nice shooter. Ariel Huckporty is their backup.

[Dave DeFore]

Big.

[Esper HENNEY]

I still think they need another backup.

[Dave DeFore]

Big.

[Esper HENNEY]

Truthfully, we liked Dominic Barlow all season. I think their depth is a question, but it's not as big of a question as people are making it out to be. I think this team is deep enough if they are healthy enough, but I don't think they'll be healthy enough betting on Joel Embiid.

[Dave DeFore]

This is.

[Esper HENNEY]

This is why. This is, like, the boldest move of LeBron's career, because he's betting the. On a house that.

[Dave DeFore]

How.

[Esper HENNEY]

On a place that houses Joel Embiid.

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[Esper HENNEY]

Like, how do you. How do you bet on that?

[Dave DeFore]

I. I don't necessarily know from a regular season perspective. You know, Joel Embiid is a much bigger question mark than LeBron. But LeBron's gonna play 60 games, maybe, right? Like, maybe he plays 65. I don't know. He was pretty healthy last year outside of the start of the season.

[Esper HENNEY]

Look, late to class production suggests they should trade embiid for A.D.

[Zena Cato]

we literally. Listen, S. And I. S and I literally discussed about quickly right before the pod started.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

And the way that, you know, I was like, oh, really? And S. Had a good point of like, well, you know, they were willing to do it in Golden State, and I was like, but Golden State isn't tied to a big man. Right? Like, it's. That would be the equivalent of, like, trying to. Not talent necessarily, but legacy. Trying to trade Kavon Looney for AD Right. Trading Joel Embiid, who's been part of everything that Philadelphia has been trying to go through for AD Would be so messy. But. Yeah, but it's the king, right? Like, what. What could happen? You don't want to X that out. I like your point about the.

[Andrew]

The.

[Zena Cato]

Sorry, go ahead.

[Esper HENNEY]

I would just say, like, to your point, Xena, and maybe to your point earlier, about, like, the fit. Wouldn't the fit be a little bit better if it was AD Instead of Embiid? Like, having a rim runner. He's definitely a better defender at this point in their careers, right?

[Dave DeFore]

A finish.

[Esper HENNEY]

Better off play finisher. I don't know, man. I think that would make sense.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah, we'll see what the. I mean, I don't know how the city of Philadelphia would feel about that. Right? Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

So there is some reporting, guys. Vince. Vince Goodwill from ESPN. He was reporting that LeBron was pushing for the Cavs to make a trade to get Kyrie back.

[Andrew]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

And maybe that's part of why he didn't wind up there. We Al, also we saw the reporting, you know, that he was trying to get the warriors to trade for AD I. I had felt like the warriors were. Was kind of out of it for the last few weeks. All that smoke that was happening, you know, pre free agency went away and all I was hearing was Cleveland and Miami. The. The Philadelphia thing completely under the radar. Well, you know, what happened too shocking.

[Zena Cato]

What also happened, I think it was, was. I think it was LeBron that was like at fan fest or fanatics fest. And it had, you know, mentioned that. Oh, he, you know, here's. Here's the Warriors. He hears the Sixers. He never said Cleveland.

[Esper HENNEY]

He also said trusting the process or

[Zena Cato]

I think it was right, right, right. I can't remember if it was LeBron or Rich Paul, but I remember hearing that, that he had said, I hear this, I hear that. And he had never said anything about Cleveland and he said trust the process. So people were like, oh, bunny ears are up. Is he going to, you know, is Philadelphia more of a consideration than Cleveland? But yeah, that. That still makes a lot, not a lot of sense. Okay, let's still break down the basketball of it all. You guys already talked about the. The spacing of it.

[Andrew]

The.

[Zena Cato]

There was a story this morning by fanside as I was like reading trying to catch up. This was a big one. 146.4%. That is the starting five of the Philadelphia's 76ers combined usage rate for much. So, Dave, you're on to something. Yeah, yeah, it's going to be incredibly tough. The. The spacing's gon. But Maxi did say that he wants more time off ball. So, you know, on top of having potentially another backup big, a solid backup big, I think needing a point guard and really tapping into Maxi. Are you going to be this point guard VJ Edge come. Are you going to be the point guard for them? And that's where I'm also interested. Does LeBron end up being a de facto point guard for them like that? That's good.

[Dave DeFore]

I mean, I think crunch, you can see a world where in crunch time, Maxi is able to run off screens. Yeah, you know, I, I think that it does open their offense up quite a bit. LeBron's not like he's a better facilitator by far than Tyres Maxi and Jaylen Brown. Right? Period. He is going to be the best point guard that they have on the team on the floor. Best decision maker by a lot. Y. I think that, that Maxi being off the ball, he's such a great shooter that it's going to open up a lot for them. Vijay Edgecombe is gonna, gonna have a, just a Runway to success. He's gonna be the least guarded guy on the team. He, he. I think he's gonna have a lot of wide open shots.

[Zena Cato]

Yep.

[Dave DeFore]

LeBron also is a great catch and shoot guy, so they'll, they'll have plenty of shooting. This obviously adds a ton of playmaking to a team that really needed a boost in that department. You know, Jaylen Brown can create for himself, but does he really elevate other guys? You know, not really. Same with Embiid. And now you have LeBron out there. So, like your fourth quarter, you know, your crunch time, last five minutes, you've got one of the best basketball decision makers in history, right? So play with really talented guys. I mean, Joel Embiid can be a finisher. He doesn't just have to go and work in ISO. And I think that I would much rather have the ball in LeBron's hands than any of those other dudes. So, you know, I'd like to, yeah,

[Esper HENNEY]

I'd like to point everybody's attention to the types of teams LeBron James has won championships with in terms of the archetypes of players around him. So he needs a scoring release valve type of guard in that you have Tyrese Maxey or Jalen Brown, the combination of two of those guys. Right. He is typically needed copious amounts, dubious amounts of shooting in Anthony Simons, in Vijay Edgecombe, who can knock down his shots off the catch. Tyrese Maxey, one of the best off ball scorers and shooters in the league. And I think Jalen Brown is like good enough of a shooter to keep.

[Dave DeFore]

He's a great corner three shooter, great corner. Jalen Brown will wind up with some easy looks too.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, he's not the greatest pull up three point shooter, but like off the catch, I think I'll check those numbers in a sec, but I think off the catch he's a little bit better. And Joel Embiid at this point in his career is a pretty good like pick and pop threat. You know, it's basically what he did all of last year was pick and pop to at least like the nail or maybe like right kind of above the break, three point line extended to help him shoot. So they have shooting, they have ball handling, they have secondary scoring. The one area that a LeBron James team usually has that. This team does not have is defense. They are not a good defensive team. It was the reason, truthfully. The 2017 and 2018 Cavaliers could not pair up with the warriors at all despite the talent discrepancy. They were just not that good of a defensive team. Great offensive team, not that good of a defensive team.

[Dave DeFore]

They were like 29th in defense one of those seasons.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, they were. Yeah, they were a bottom Tier team in 2018. Defensively, the reason the Lakers won in the bubble and were really, really good was because they had Alex Caruso and Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma who was like a solid team defender at that point and Kentavius, Caldwell Pope and Danny Green and Marcus Saul and those guys like provided LeBron.

[Zena Cato]

Even JaVale McGee was coming off the bench.

[Esper HENNEY]

White Howard, like they, they had good or solid defensive players. With this Sixers team, it's like Joel Embiid has taken a clear step back defensively. Jalen Brown is I think a solid on ball defender but not a good off ball defender. And Maxi and Edgecomb are small like they are. They are inevitably small. So how. That's the part that is a question for me. It's like if LeBron really believed this is a championship group, the one thing that is missing is a defense. You know, I don't think they're going to be that good of a defense. That's my question.

[Dave DeFore]

Right. Yeah, I mean, I don't think so either. I think that's a valid concern, especially come playoff time. Like Jalen Brown can hold up. He's not. He shouldn't be your best defender on the court.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, I mean, look, Dean Wade is a good defender. I've actually, it was. I was impressed by him defensively, I think.

[Zena Cato]

And he's a decent outside shooter as well.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, another decent outside shooter like Dominic Barlow. Solid athleticism, but. Right. Anthony Simons, not that great of a defender. Like Ariel Hook, Porty, a nice big man. Not that great of a defender. So it's just. Yeah, I think that's the big issue for the Sixers team as they look ahead to next season. Also. Maybe, maybe this is a segue. Xena, I don't know if you have another.

[Zena Cato]

Well, I just had a. I'm trying to figure out a Dambona.

[Esper HENNEY]

Oh, right, yeah, another guy. Yeah, but like rotation big. Yeah, sure.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean they, they leaned on him heavy in the playoffs last year, so. All right, yes, go ahead, Segue, please. I just also wanted to really quickly Say my bad.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Zena Cato]

Philadelphia front office. I think there was, like, a comment on that earlier. Bob Myers pretty.

[Dave DeFore]

Pretty good moves so far. All right. Mike Gansey has. Has really kind of nailed this summer from a, you know, Big Fish acquisition standpoint. But again, the fit is. I, I do think that there, there are going to be questions about the defense. I think the offensive fit will be fine. It's not seamless. Some of it is going to depend on Joel Embiid. Like I said, being more of a finisher. It should help him, I think, get through the season a little easier. Right. Like, you don't need him as much because LeBron can be out there so often. You, as you mentioned, his pick and pop game, that's another way to kind of nurse Embiid through the season. Don't have him finishing around the basket as much, banging up, you know, and this is a guy in LeBron, I think he would be his best pick and roll partner.

[Zena Cato]

So shout out Bob Myers for hiring Mike Gansey and shout out Mike Gansey for doing a lot of great work this offseason. Okay. Yes, please segue us S. Where do

[Esper HENNEY]

they rank in the Eastern Conference now that they have added LeBron James? We just talked about their team. They're clearly going to be good. You know, they've clearly found themselves a foundation.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Dave DeFore]

They're clearly going to be good at full health and maybe come playoff time regular season again.

[Esper HENNEY]

I would actually flip that.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, Embiid, I think, are gonna. They're gonna have to load. Manage the season. Right?

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

So. So the Sixers are going to be playing this game of. Do we have the bodies to win every night? A lot of nights.

[Esper HENNEY]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

Like a lot of weeks, probably. And so that's. That's my concern. I think once you get to the playoffs, okay, we know our best five that we're going to roll out there. And. And the fit is pretty good, except for on the defensive end. It's a good question. Where do they rank?

[Esper HENNEY]

Like, I have.

[Dave DeFore]

I mean, below the Knicks. Everyone's below the Knicks right now, right? Yeah, yeah. Second tier. That's going to be hyper competitive. You know, the Bostons, the. The Raptors, if they have Boston. I mean, Boston in the regular season, I think they're going to still win a lot of games.

[Esper HENNEY]

Sure.

[Zena Cato]

Without Jalen Brown, though.

[Esper HENNEY]

Let me have it.

[Zena Cato]

Just.

[Dave DeFore]

They just have a system.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I'll. I'll name.

[Esper HENNEY]

I'll name teams, and I will let you know that four of these teams that I'm about to name will be playing teams. Okay. The Knicks, the Sixers, the Pacers, the Raptors, the Cavaliers, the Heat, the Pistons, the Celtics, the Magic, and the Hawks. Four of those teams will be in the play in. And I think eight, maybe seven of them genuinely believe they can make the NBA Finals. That's. Maybe we don't believe that, but they certainly believe. Like, if you say the Wizards. I didn't add the Wizards in there. We can add the Wizards in there, but I don't know. We'll see. Look, on the break, pod says Vegas has the Sixers with the fifth best off.

[Dave DeFore]

I think the Celtics.

[Esper HENNEY]

Oh, Celtics.

[Dave DeFore]

There we go. Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

Okay.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah. Okay. Nick's. We don't know if Toronto got Kawhi. That's still like a brother.

[Esper HENNEY]

Listen, I sat beside him. He was looking for houses in Toronto. He is.

[Zena Cato]

Okay.

[Esper HENNEY]

The trade is gonna happen. The trade.

[Zena Cato]

Okay. All right, all right.

[Dave DeFore]

You were looking at this man's phone.

[Esper HENNEY]

No, no, no, no, no. He was having a conversation with someone else and. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Okay. I'm not that snooze drop. No, I'm just.

[Esper HENNEY]

I'm a great listener. I'm a great listener.

[Dave DeFore]

He said he sat during a Raptors summer league game. He's going to Toronto.

[Zena Cato]

That's a good point. That's a good point.

[Esper HENNEY]

He is going to Toronto. The Pacers.

[Zena Cato]

The Pacers.

[Esper HENNEY]

Are the current Sixers better than the Indiana Pacers on paper?

[Dave DeFore]

I don't know.

[Zena Cato]

Yes. Really?

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

I mean, because we still haven't seen Halliburton with a Visa. Zuba. I mean, we can. I think that is great.

[Dave DeFore]

That's a concern. Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

But we haven't seen it, so I don't want to pencil that in.

[Dave DeFore]

The Pacers are a little bit of a mystery box, if we're being honest. Right. Because Caliburton coming back matters so much.

[Zena Cato]

Agreed.

[Esper HENNEY]

But they had.

[Dave DeFore]

They have a ton of talent. I mean, Pascal, Siakam, Zubac.

[Esper HENNEY]

I mean, I love the Kelly Oubre signing.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

By the way, on the break, pod just confirms. Sixers, as of now, have the third best odds in the NBA to win the title. Best in the east, 7 to 1.

[Dave DeFore]

See, then that's crazy.

[Esper HENNEY]

I think that's too much. That's way too much.

[Zena Cato]

That feels.

[Dave DeFore]

This is where, again, you know, I'm not into gambling, but that's where. Man. Doesn't gambling just feel so scammy? Third best odds. Come on. Jump on, guys.

[Esper HENNEY]

Everybody should buy Dell computers.

[Andrew]

Fine.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

Everybody should buy Dell computers. Trust me on that. One.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, I just. Listen, I think obviously the Sixers are better than they were yesterday because they added LeBron. I. I just. I don't know if it's enough.

[Esper HENNEY]

I want a definitive answer. Which teams are better than this current Philadelphia 76ers team?

[Zena Cato]

The Knicks.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah,

[Dave DeFore]

I think the Raptors.

[Esper HENNEY]

That would be a fun series, by the way. That would be a really fun playoff series. Raptors, Sixers.

[Zena Cato]

Would we put the Heat?

[Dave DeFore]

Oh, no.

[Esper HENNEY]

I would say no. You know, you guys know how high I am on the Miami Heat. I would.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah. Okay.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

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[Zena Cato]

This is the question. This is the question.

[Dave DeFore]

Cabs are Cavs are probably better than than Philadelphia.

[Zena Cato]

I think they might be even that

[Dave DeFore]

baseline defense is with Mobley and Allen

[Esper HENNEY]

is just better and one full season of harden like in there. That's true Incorporated.

[Zena Cato]

I think they might be even Though

[Esper HENNEY]

I'd put them in the similar too. I'd put all these teams in the same.

[Zena Cato]

I mean, LeBron is such a rising in that mix. No, that's, that's the interesting part is the team finished with 60 games last year.

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[Zena Cato]

But they haven't changed much.

[Esper HENNEY]

No, if anything, they've gotten worse.

[Dave DeFore]

They've taken a step back.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

Anything. They've gotten worse.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

I mean, losing Tobias Harris, the whole situation.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah. I would say even just off that, like, they've lost veteranship, which the Sixers are. They have a bevy of. So.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, I would.

[Zena Cato]

I wouldn't put them above that. So I'm still New York Knicks, Toronto, Raptors. I'm just looking at a list right now. Yeah, I'm like, oh, Atlanta.

[Esper HENNEY]

No, no, I'm not even close. Not even close, in my opinion. I mean, you know what, though? I like Atlanta, but not close. All right, can I. The, the other aspect to this is like, it's clear the Sixers even, maybe even above the Knicks have the highest ceiling of this group. Right. Like of the Eastern. That's why they're third best title odds. Because if everything goes right, if Maxi and Edgecomb and Jalen Brown are all killing it in the regular season, and if LeBron stays healthy and if Embiid stays healthy, then they end up winning a championship like that. That's the ceiling of this group.

[Andrew]

Sure.

[Esper HENNEY]

But the floor can also bottom out in a major way too. If Embiid plays 20 games and LeBron is nursing back and foot injuries all season, and maybe Jalen Brown and Tyrese Maxey isn't the most snug fit. Like the floor for this team can also be a playing team if things go poorly.

[Dave DeFore]

This is the east, though. Any of those teams could have something go bad and they're in the play in. It's. It's gonna be the most competitive Eastern Conference in years. I mean, last year was extremely competitive, but this is going to be again, 11 teams for 10 spots, which we haven't seen in a really long time. Yeah. So, I mean, this Sixers team, I. I'm with. Yes. I think that they could be the three seed or the four seed or they could be in the play seventh. Having to win two games maybe to. To make the playoffs. That's sort of the sliding range. I have them. I. I still think Boston in the regular season is gonna. Gonna crank out wins. I. I think the Knicks, there's no reason to believe that they. They aren't in the mix next season.

[Esper HENNEY]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Dave DeFore]

You know, the one. The one argument. They played so much basketball, but these, you know, the Knicks, it's kind of what they do. You know, they just play a lot. They stay healthy. The Sixers team, though, like, I want to know, like, how many games is LeBron gonna play? Because if he can make it to 60, 65 games, obviously, that's. Yeah, that's. They do much better situation than if he plays 45 at his position.

[Esper HENNEY]

They do have some depth. Like, I think Dean Wade and Don Barlow is like a good amount of power forward ish. Death depth that can help them. When LeBron is missing games, they look like a different team and they have to operate differently, but they. They would feasibly have enough depth at that position. The question for me is their depth at the center spot. Like, I. I think Adam Bona party. They're solid.

[Zena Cato]

I see games where LeBron is playing the five.

[Dave DeFore]

Those. Both those guys. Both those guys are third bigs. That's the issue.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

That they're going to be playing a third big on a lot of nights.

[Esper HENNEY]

That's a great point, Xena.

[Andrew]

I agree.

[Zena Cato]

I see him playing a lot of five and especially in clutch situations or, you know, trying to close things out. Okay, guys, we've been going for a while. I want to close this out and just think about the things that are going to be coming. Because this happened. Right. Of course. James Harden was waiting to sign. We can expect him probably to sign very quickly. Cleveland was also, you know, looking at conversations with Jonathan Kaminga, possibly ranking him on. We'll see if that happens. We'll see what Cleveland closes out with because they now have to make their decisions, obviously with Golden State. Draymond, he had declined his option trying to make path for this. He'll probably sign now and that will close out Miami. What do you think they're going to do now that this is now out of the conversation for them?

[Esper HENNEY]

I would. I would bet that they go hard for demarta Rosen.

[Dave DeFore]

Yep.

[Andrew]

O.

[Zena Cato]

Okay. Okay. I like.

[Esper HENNEY]

Because they need. They need another ball handler and he's the best. Bradley, like veteran, maybe Bradley.

[Dave DeFore]

Bradley be. May be an option for them again, that I would go with demarta Rosen over Bradley Beal. I want a guy who can play, especially if I'm Miami. Like if I'm. If I'm Giannis. I need a guy who's gonna play 65 plus games.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah, his option too, right?

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, yeah, he's.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Jamar, actually. He has in like individual goals to play for and also like the guy, I mean, he. He shows up every night. So I. I think if I'm Miami, I'm going hard on that.

[Esper HENNEY]

I'll just say there is. There is a lot of smoke to the Toronto for Demar stuff. A lot. Which. Which might be a case here, too.

[Dave DeFore]

I would assume, though, that he would have to hold off and wait until the Kawhi goes.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Zena, what do you think the warriors are going to do now? Because it felt like so many of their eggs were in this LeBron basket.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

And it felt like over the last week or so, the tides shifted because it felt like when. When the initial report happened, it was like, oh, he's going to Golden State.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

And then the tide shifted so dramatically to. They're not a team that he is even considering. They now have to deal with the Draymond extension. What do you think they do.

[Zena Cato]

They sign Draymond. I think Draymond lines up his contract to finish out with Steph or at least to just be aligned with Steffens. And then they have to figure out what's going to be the backup to Jimmy. And I know there's been talks about Nick Batum possibly coming in or. You know what. You know what? That. What he's going to look like in general.

[Esper HENNEY]

Wow.

[Zena Cato]

I mean, this is. This is where the warriors are. They're. They're strapped for cash and they are an older team.

[Dave DeFore]

But listen, Mario Hosonia is trying to come back to the NBA. They should keep the tires on him.

[Esper HENNEY]

So. Sean just reported that LeBron James is considering the possibility of living in New York while he plays for the Sixers. It's a 45 minute chopper trip from Philly to New York.

[Zena Cato]

No, I don't.

[Dave DeFore]

We don't want to do this. Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

I don't like it.

[Zena Cato]

I don't like it.

[Esper HENNEY]

I don't like it.

[Dave DeFore]

Take the train. Take the train.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah. It's like what, an hour? It's like an hour and a half, maybe.

[Zena Cato]

I don't.

[Esper HENNEY]

It'd be funny if LeBron takes the train. LeBron the commuter at 42 years old. I. I just don't know why commute? Hey, I'm a commuter. I have no problem.

[Andrew]

Right.

[Esper HENNEY]

But I'm just saying.

[Zena Cato]

And there's a lot of people in New York who commute. Like people that are of higher caliber, et cetera, you want to call it. They. They're on the train with this. With this people. Normal people.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah. I just don't love the idea of commuting.

[Zena Cato]

I don't either.

[Dave DeFore]

From another city.

[Zena Cato]

I don't either. But, yeah, I. I think Golden State is just like, they have Draymond to resign, and there's going to be some interesting names that are going to be probably brought up to back up these older guys, because they are. If there's any team that you have to concern. Be concerned about being able to get to the finish line of even the playoffs, like, getting to the playoffs in general, it's Golden State.

[Dave DeFore]

And so, yeah, you know, you were saying, like, they need to. To figure out who's gonna. Who's gonna back up Jimmy. When is Jimmy gonna play? Like, when is Jimmy Butler actually gonna come back?

[Esper HENNEY]

Probably, like, March.

[Andrew]

February.

[Dave DeFore]

March.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

That's a lost season. I. I wouldn't count on him at all if I'm the Warriors.

[Esper HENNEY]

That's why you have Yaxel Landenborg.

[Dave DeFore]

They needed.

[Esper HENNEY]

They.

[Dave DeFore]

Honestly, it's missed opportunity for them. They really should have tried to move Jimmy over the summer. Like, even if they have to move Jimmy's salary to get AD and you have to extend him, you need a. You need players like, but one that's unserious, but that doesn't.

[Zena Cato]

That doesn't align with what the warriors are about. Right. Like, you look at all of these deals that they've had over the last few years, whether it was the Clay deal, Kavon Looney, like, they are a team that if you buy into them, they'll buy into you. And they keep, you know, players, even through injury, to be able to rehab them. And everyone says they have one of the best rehab situations going down to Santa Cruz, being able to work out with those guys, being able to work out with their team physicians, like, this is the team that will invest in you. And Jimmy Butler over the summer did a panel in which he spoke on, you know, how much he loves the warriors and how much that he loves the experience that's. That he's had with them and how much he feels like their family. I'm paraphrasing here, but that I don't see a world in which Mike Dunleavy hears that. I think he was on the panel with him. He hears that and he's like, all right, Deuces.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

Anybody else? Probably, but not Golden State. So that's why I'm like, what you're going to see a lot of with Golden State is probably what you saw in previous years, a lot of the G League warriors, and they're fine with that. Like, as long as they win enough games to get to the A Position where they can play for playing spot or whatever.

[Andrew]

They're.

[Zena Cato]

They're okay with that because you can't count the warriors out when Stephen Curry is on the team.

[Esper HENNEY]

Right.

[Zena Cato]

That's the mentality for them, I think. And so, I mean, heck, that's the mentality for a lot of folks, really. Included.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

Real quick, a big shout out. Because I just saw this on Twitter and I feel like it were. It's worth acknowledging Mike Gansey of the Philadelphia 76ers. First year, first summer as Sixers president, trades for Jalen Brown, trades Paul George, signs LeBron James, signs Dean Wade, signs Anthony Simons, like, and loses no first round picks, loses two first rounds, two for the Paul George. And that's right. Thing. That's a pretty good start. I mean, given the fact that he was taking over for Daryl Morey and there was a lot of, like, questions about Maury and the way that he got let go with the Jared McCain stuff and to kind of maneuver his way through this and build a team that, like, is very clearly better. That's pretty impressive. Also, he is a former Ohio basketball player, so he has that LeBron James connection, too. I think his brother tweeted a photo of him and LeBron together at some point when they were high school teammates or whatever. So, yeah, that part, I guess.

[Zena Cato]

I love that. Shout out to Mike Gansey. Agreed. Oh, Phil Harris Blitzer doing work over there in Philadelphia. Shout out to them. All right, y'. All, this has been our reaction. Oh, we've got. Oh, Andrew. Okay, we can't leave without getting Andrew's thoughts. Andrew LeBron is no longer a concern.

[Dave DeFore]

Why didn't he sign an okc? He's signing for the minimum.

[Andrew]

I. I heard that. I heard Sam Presti wouldn't pick up his calls.

[Esper HENNEY]

Oh, nice.

[Andrew]

Just kidding. Just kidding. This is like the perfect hedge signing ever, right? Because if he wins the title, yeah, he is one of the most legendary players. He already is. But, like, he would, like, cap off his legendary career with the most legendary title ever.

[Zena Cato]

She stakes fourth franchise. One titles in the other three.

[Andrew]

And you do it in Philly.

[Zena Cato]

And you do it in Philly.

[Andrew]

I mean, my gosh. But if you lose, it's Philly, baby.

[Dave DeFore]

This is what expectations.

[Zena Cato]

There's going to be something weird about that. I don't know about that.

[Esper HENNEY]

Does LeBron get booed in his final game?

[Zena Cato]

I absolutely believe the city of Philly has. No. No, I do not think they're going to be like, oh, it's cool. We've been through this.

[Andrew]

But look at. Look at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers.

[Esper HENNEY]

It's bad.

[Andrew]

Look at the history of this team.

[Zena Cato]

Something. Three year drought.

[Andrew]

Something always happens. Something weird always happens. And something weird is gonna happen this season.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

And you know what? If they don't win, that weird thing that happens, LeBron's just gonna be like, couldn't help it.

[Zena Cato]

Not my fault.

[Andrew]

I didn't do it.

[Esper HENNEY]

The four bounce again.

[Andrew]

And then he gets telling you something weird's gonna happen.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah. He has a clear option. That's right.

[Andrew]

Because it's Philly. But I do love it. It's the. It is the ultimate superstar signing hedge in the history of the NBA. Yeah. Because he can do no wrong.

[Esper HENNEY]

You think he could just. He doesn't lose.

[Andrew]

There's no way to lose. Because if you lose, it's the Sixers. If you win. Oh, my gosh. Sixers.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

I think y' all are highly doubting the expectations for the city of Philadelphia.

[Andrew]

I'm not even talking our.

[Zena Cato]

Our perspective. Yeah, you're right. From our perspective, the NBA, like, everyone in the ecosystem is like, absolutely gonna. It's just Philly. It is what it is. There is going to be some interesting subplots. Joel Embiid's knee is going to be an interesting subplot. The spacing is going to be a subplot. Yeah, you're right. You're absolutely right. I never thought about that perspective.

[Esper HENNEY]

Can we. Can we just real quick, like, what is. The Knicks just won a championship. And exactly what Andrew is saying could be attributed to the Knicks before they won that championship.

[Andrew]

100. Very true.

[Esper HENNEY]

So, like, if it. If it can happen for the Knicks, it can happen for anyone.

[Andrew]

And look at how, like, legendary this, like, title celebration has been.

[Esper HENNEY]

Insane.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Like, it has been one of the biggest ever. And it would be in Philly as well. But if, like, if the Knicks lost to the spurs, everybody like, ah, it was cool. Nicks, you know, Nick.

[Esper HENNEY]

That was dumb.

[Andrew]

Nicks, you know.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, they were. LeBron would be a Nick right now if the next thing.

[Andrew]

I know. I know.

[Esper HENNEY]

It would have been a Nick.

[Andrew]

You know what? Knicks fans rather have the title.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Okay.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Andrew]

Hold on.

[Zena Cato]

But we would be happy, I think too is like the. As you mentioned, it'd be a big celebration. I feel like the way that we all collectively were so happy for the Knicks fans feels the same way we would be for this.

[Dave DeFore]

Oh, I don't think so. See, really?

[Andrew]

Really.

[Dave DeFore]

I actually don't think so. Part of it was this Knicks team was so easy to root for. And I think this Philadelphia team is going to be divisive amongst NBA people.

[Esper HENNEY]

I don't know if that's necessarily.

[Dave DeFore]

Listen, Jalen Brown is already a guy that, I think a lot of NBA fans, like, he sure kind of is

[Esper HENNEY]

one of the biggest villains.

[Dave DeFore]

Rubs people the wrong way. LeBron rubs people the wrong way. And I mean fans, right.

[Zena Cato]

Like, I mean, new teammate the wrong way.

[Dave DeFore]

And, and then you've got Tyree. Right. Then you got Tyrese Maxi, who is like all time nice guy that everybody roots for and loves.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, right.

[Dave DeFore]

I think, I think Sixers fans are gonna be extreme this year. Shout out to Trill, because I. I can't wait to watch his streams after a LeBron game.

[Andrew]

It's gonna be crazy. Yeah, it's gonna be so funny.

[Dave DeFore]

But I do think, I think that this is going to be a team that, man, they're gonna get booed hard in a lot of places.

[Esper HENNEY]

Yeah, maybe. But this is, this is also. It's kind of like the. What's a weird version of the Heatles. Like, like Sixers. Sixers, Fleetwood Mac. I don't know. You know, look, there's a lot of drama if you guys know the Fleetwood Mac history.

[Andrew]

That's true.

[Esper HENNEY]

They kind of broke up. There was a lot of drama. Anyway.

[Dave DeFore]

That's a long. This is more like, you know, how, like the. Well, I can't remember the specifics, but, like, is it Velvet Revolver, where two old bands broke up and then they made a. Another super group?

[Esper HENNEY]

Wasn't that Fleetwood.

[Zena Cato]

Y' all are losing me.

[Dave DeFore]

No.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Dave DeFore]

I just.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

I'm trying to find a nickname for them. It doesn't work. It doesn't work.

[Zena Cato]

No, I, I. Okay, so I'm gonna be in the, in the bucket of. I. I would be incredibly happy for the Sixers fans if.

[Andrew]

Oh, me too.

[Zena Cato]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

I'm with you, Xena. I'm with you a thousand.

[Esper HENNEY]

I think it'd be cool. I think it'd be awesome. But I will say, can I. From a, From a Toronto Raptors perspective, it would be poetic, to say the least, for Kawhi to end up exalting the LeBron demons against the Sixers, the same team, the four bounce thing happened.

[Andrew]

Wow.

[Esper HENNEY]

This would be poetic. Poetic justice, if you will. That would be awesome.

[Zena Cato]

Did you just write that as. That was well done.

[Esper HENNEY]

No, I, I wrote it 20 minutes ago on Twitter, but it's okay. Ritz repeat.

[Zena Cato]

No, I Would genuinely was like that's well done.

[Dave DeFore]

No, no big deal, Zena. Twitter got it first.

[Esper HENNEY]

Hey, we were waiting for someone to wake up.

[Zena Cato]

Oh listen, I was out.

[Andrew]

I don't know how many times I called you, Dave. I don't.

[Dave DeFore]

I just didn't have my phone, guys.

[Andrew]

I. I knew it and I. You know what? Every time it went to voicemail, I respected you a little bit more.

[Esper HENNEY]

I know same.

[Dave DeFore]

And especially we've talked about it. Yeah.

[Esper HENNEY]

I. When. When I found out that you don't even have a voicemail created. You don't have like a. Hi, this is Dave. Leave a message.

[Dave DeFore]

It's. Well, I. I see who calls the.

[Andrew]

Listen, the most important people I know do not have a voicemail like saying like hey, I'm. Blah, blah, blah. You know.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, I. I don't feel like I'm a very important person. I just never said of a voice or like disagree. I have like 10, 000 unread emails.

[Esper HENNEY]

That's insane.

[Dave DeFore]

That's. I have at least 25 texts on my phone that I just give anxiety.

[Esper HENNEY]

I have.

[Zena Cato]

Oh my.

[Esper HENNEY]

Okay. I have 343 unread emails.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, I have. I have so many emails that basically I should just set up a new email account.

[Esper HENNEY]

Wait, what? Let's. Let's play this game. Andrew. Dave, how about you guys? Or Xena. How about you?

[Andrew]

I cleared. I cleared mine out.

[Esper HENNEY]

You cleared yours out this morning.

[Andrew]

So you have zeroed out. You're zeroed out.

[Zena Cato]

I have. I have time dedicated to do that. But I'm at 300 in my main. Well, I have different emails. Right. My marketing email has a lot of like. That's where I get all my. Here's a deal. Here's a sale that has a. That's like insane. But my professional and my personal combined552. Wow.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah. I don't even. I don't look at my email.

[Esper HENNEY]

I used to be.

[Zena Cato]

But I am a clear. But I am a clear out. And that's only. You know why? You know why? Because I messed up this year and I gave all the WNBA teams my personal. My email. And so I have a million million. These are the starting five post game media availability I have. So I have to clear all that stuff out. But once I'll be. I'll be at zero by the end of the day. Don't you worry. I am trying to reach you.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

I mean but honestly that's. It's a really funny. That's a great line. That's why I don't Check my. My email. You know, anything important gets to me, and if it doesn't get to me, it clearly wasn't important enough.

[Esper HENNEY]

Well, LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers eventually got to you.

[Andrew]

Eventually made it.

[Esper HENNEY]

Eventually it got to you.

[Dave DeFore]

It did, yeah. Look, this was, to me, like the Sixers. I never took them seriously as an actual LeBron consideration. Same never did. And I. I'm curious how much that came into play for LeBron. Hey, let me also just throw a curveball at everybody.

[Zena Cato]

Why not?

[Dave DeFore]

You know? Like, is.

[Zena Cato]

Is that a part of the last signing? Why not? Why not?

[Esper HENNEY]

I really do feel like the Anthony Davis Joel Embiid trade should happen. Like, the more I think about it, the more I'm like, this is what needs to happen.

[Dave DeFore]

It would be something. I. I mean, the Wizards would be an interesting team to actually take a swing on Joel, wouldn't they? I don't know if I would call that interesting.

[Zena Cato]

I don't know.

[Esper HENNEY]

I mean, but it would be. Yeah, they would have to. I think. I think Philly would have to trade picks to. Or a pick, maybe.

[Andrew]

Sure. But listen, you just signed a 42 year old LeBron James. Like, if this is gonna work, like, you just have to. You just have to go now.

[Esper HENNEY]

Right?

[Andrew]

Like, just let him stay. You have to go now.

[Dave DeFore]

They got to get embiid on the LeBron program, right? What. Whatever. Whatever LeBron is doing is to keep himself ready.

[Zena Cato]

Oh, go ahead. Yes, go ahead.

[Dave DeFore]

No, no, I'm just. They need to. They need to put in beat on this, keep him healthy, figure out, you know, like, maybe it's 40 games that he plays.

[Esper HENNEY]

I was about to say, maybe. Maybe, like, LeBron being there will help Embiid stay healthy. Like, maybe just kind of like, lock in more, you know, Never know. I don't know. I'm sure. I'm sure Embiid is locked in. I'm not questioning that, but just, yeah, you know, maybe something else a little bit extra.

[Zena Cato]

All right, y', all, to close this out, I have one question. Is it championship or bust?

[Esper HENNEY]

Yes, sure. Any team. Any team that has LeBron James's championship or bust.

[Dave DeFore]

Yes.

[Zena Cato]

I mean, they definitely. They have a second year.

[Esper HENNEY]

Sure. Yeah. Yeah.

[Zena Cato]

They have the opportunity to just, you know, build towards that.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, you're saying Joel Embiid's not getting any younger either.

[Zena Cato]

Right?

[Dave DeFore]

And I agree. You could argue that his body, in some ways, maybe is older than LeBron's. Like, it's injury accumulation, and I. So I think that this is, you've got to capitalize on Joel Embiid right now, like, where he's as theoretically as healthy as he's gonna be. I mean, he, I gotta say, if I'm, if I'm a Sixers fan and I watched the way he looked in that Boston series when he came back before he kind of retweaked that knee. I, I, I, I would say, man, I, I, we've got some hope if we can just keep him healthy, get to the playoffs. Can he give us 20 games in the playoffs? That's the thing. But as of yet, they haven't been able to do it. I, I look forward to watching how they, how they manage this situation because I do think on paper there's so much talent there. If everybody's healthy, it's gonna be fun.

[Esper HENNEY]

It's gonna be awesome. It's like the, the NBA next year is going to be in the best way possible. Like an insane pay per view show to watch. Like, it will be entertainment at its highest because of all the craziness. Think about the movement, the moves.

[Zena Cato]

I was just gonna say all these new personalities and new places, these new connections and dynamics that we're going to be paying attention to. The basketball is going to be interesting. I mean, yeah, yeah, agree.

[Esper HENNEY]

Like, Lamelo is on the Timberwolves and Kawhi is back in Toronto and Jalen Brown and LeBron are on the Sixers and Giannis is in Miami.

[Dave DeFore]

It's like, this is like, like if you play a 2K dynasty and you get to that third year, everything is weird.

[Esper HENNEY]

Everything's weird. Yes. I'm stealing that and I'm tweeting it in 20 minutes. Thank you very much. You're right.

[Zena Cato]

On that note, I think we're going to close it out for us this morning. Again. LeBron James officially going to Philadelphia. Two years, eight million dollar deal. He's not doing it for the money. He's not doing it for his family. He's doing it because he wants to play winning basketball. That's going to be it for us at NBA Daily. Appreciate y' all waking up with us. For Esper HENNEY and Dave DeFore, I'm Zena Cato. Appreciate y' all tuning in. Bye.

[Dave DeFore]

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[Andrew]

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[Dave DeFore]

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[Zena Cato]

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[Dave DeFore]

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[Andrew]

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[Dave DeFore]

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[Zena Cato]

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[Zena Cato]

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[Esper HENNEY]

Download the Bilt app and join the

[Zena Cato]

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[Dave DeFore]

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