A basketball fan’s perspective

Special Edition

The news regarding LeBron James occurred after the Friday edition of Off the Dribble was published. This event is so important it called for an immediate edition rather than wait for Sunday. This is written with bare minimum news, I hoped to not be influenced by anything read, 99% of what you are reading are my own thoughts alone. The schedule makers can now began to look toward next season now that we are aware of where LeBron James will play. There are two standout issues, the team and the money for me. He’s signing with the Sixers, I speculated late it would be the Cavs, Warriors or Sixers. I have a friend who grew up in Kansas City but was born in Akron. 

I informed Alex two weeks ago “LeBron is headed back to Cleveland." As you can see by my take the Sixers were in third place but that's not what occurred. Now for the money, It’s reported this is a 2-year deal at $8 million which is the minimum salary. Working backwards its clear by this amount money was not an object, rather it was the opportunity to leave the Lakers for greener pastures. As an outside observer there was an indication LeBron was not pleased with how this team was comprised over the last several years. For the Sixers Christmas has arrived twice over the summer, the first gift was securing the services of Jaylen Brown----of course adding LeBron to your lineup was the second. After the dust settles what do we have in Philly, maybe the best team in the Eastern Conference? At the center position is Joel Embiid, perhaps the best center in the league when healthy. At the three is Jaylen Brown a perineal all-star forward along with guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, LeBron slides in at the four.

On paper this is the strongest starting five the Sixers will have presented in quite a time, the question of course can they win a championship? All the cards must be played properly, in addition the reserves must play a key role in the success of these "new" Sixers. My chief question revolves around the bench bunch, can they play meaningful minutes allowing the starters periods of rest. I’ve mentioned this previously but it bears repeating, it was time for LeBron to leave the Lakers in my view.