Could This Be The One Move That Gets Lebron To Philly?
When looking back at Lebron’s history of choosing teams, what do you see? Well, you see a creative mind that is destine one day for a front office job. But, you also see his creativity.
The whole big 3 idea in Miami was never thought possible. Mainly because you had to convince two other stars to join you. But, also because of the money. Over the past 10 years in the NBA, salaries each season are at an all-time high. These salaries will always rise do to inflation. But, also because of the level of play.
During the big 3 time in Miami, Lebron had to sacrifice his bench to have the ability to play and win with his two closest friends Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. However, as time went on, this would become the reason for the end of the big 3 in Miami. As the league got better, the Heat couldn’t keep up with a bench riddled with aging veterans on low money deals. Ending the big 3 in Miami.
Then came Cleveland. When Lebron went back to Cleveland, he was seen as the final piece to the puzzle. Well, thats what many people thought until Lebron flexed his muscle again and acquired Kevin Love. With the acquisition of Love, Lebron was trying a new technique to the big 3. This time around, Lebron saw the opportunity to have a better bench because instead of 3 big contract guys, he would only have 2.
Cleveland was a perfect place to try something new because they had a superstar in the making, Kyrie Irving, on a rookie contract. The money saved from his potential big money deal, allowed Lebron to make a more sustainable bench. Instead of having aging veterans like Mike Bibby, Jerry Stackhouse, and Udonis Haslem. Lebron had guys like JR Smith, Dion Waiters, Channing Frye, and Richard Jefferson.
However, after returning to Cleveland, winning Cleveland its first championship, like he promised, Lebron has struggled in two finals since. So, what is next for King James? Well, Sixers fans. How about one more try at the big 3 with proven young NBA talent. But, instead of a big 3, how about a big 4?
Who is the big 4? Well, three of the four would already be in place. If Lebron came solely, the Sixers big 3 would be Lebron James, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid. Yes, that sounds good on paper. However, when you want to compete with the two-time defending NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors, you need more.
So, who is this 4th guy? Well, let me introduce you to Kawhi Leonard.
One thing that has hindered Lebron over the past couple of years is defense and being the guy. Well, insert the former NBA defensive player of the year and superstar himself Kawhi Leonard. The one thing Lebron has been missing over the past couple of seasons is defense. Lebron is human you know. Even being the best player in this era, he can only guard one guy at a time.
Look at what the Warriors did to Lebron this year. No matter who it is was, Lebron always had someone like Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, or Shawn Livingston guarding him at all times. That is what happens when you are the best. But, how about the other way. Who did Lebron have to help him guard the likes of Seth Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green. Well, nobody really. The reason being these guys are match-up nightmares. Anytime a switch occured, the Warriors would have the upper hand.
But, who has the best two young match-up nightmare guys in the league? The Philadelphia Sixers. When you have a 6’10” PG in Ben Simmons and a 7’2″ stretch C in Joel Embiid, the Sixers are hell to play against. Not to mention too, a stretch 4 of the bench in Dario Saric. A starting lineup of Simmons-PG, Reddick-SG, Leonard-SF, James-PF, Embiid-C, is a starting lineup normally seen in all-star games. However, the Sixers can offer that to Lebron to play with in a night in and night out basis.
So, how do that get Kawhi to Philly?
Well, listen closely to what acting GM and Head Coach Brett Brown had to say about acquiring the all important unprotected 1st round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The draft which will see 2 ESPN Top 100 classes meet because of the removal of the “1-and-done” rule for high school athletes.
“We talked about it all the time and it always comes back to what you hear us say all the time ‘how do you get a star?’ You’re going to need assets, we understand that. If you’re going to go out into a trade, they’re going to look at what you have and the more good things we have obviously the better off we can attract the stars that we all know are out there, the 2021 pick and we all understand that that could be the year that high school people are allowed into the NBA, that pick might be the key to all of this, that pick might be the thing that links a possible trade.” Sixers Acting GM and Head Coach Brett Brown
To be honest, Brett might be right. If he has already talked to the Spurs about a trade and is willing to admit this may be the final piece, then it actually might be. For Brett to go out and say “that pick might be the thing that links a possible trade” you have to believe talks between the Spurs and Sixers are going pretty well.
But, what would a trade look like?
PHI – Kawhi Leonard
SAS – Markelle Fultz, Robert Covington, Furkan Korkmaz, 2021 1st round pick
The reason why this trade works is because it helps both teams. Immediately, the Spurs can be competitive with a lineup of Mills-PG, Fultz-SG, Covington-SF, Aldridge-PF, Gasol-C. Plus have the luxury of adding a potential star in 2021 depending on how competitive the Heat are.
Then, lets look at what this does to the Sixers. If you add both Lebron and Kawhi, the Sixers would have one of the deepest starting lineups in league history.
Starters : Simmons-PG, Reddick-SG, Kawhi-SF James-PF, Embiid-C
Bench : McConnell-PG, Belinelli, PG/SG, Zhaire SG/SF, Anderson SF/PF, Saric PF, Bolden PF/C, Holmes C
If you were Lebron, does that look like a team that can win 60+ games and make it to the NBA Finals with ease? I truly believe so.