Report: PHI among teams interested in LeBron James

Per usual, the NBA will have its brightest stars playing on Christmas Day. The NBA Finals rematch will start the day at 12 p.m. ET and will be followed by Heat-Celtics, 76ers-Lakers, Thunder-Timberwolves and Nuggets-Warriors. Aside from the team and player rivalries that will add to the drama, this will also be LeBron James’ return to Los Angeles after spending the last eight seasons as a Laker.

While Tyrese Maxey will continue to take on a prominent playmaking role for the 76ers, LeBron’s arrival gives the team another option to trust in that regard. “He is an offense creator,” Nurse said, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He is certainly a guy that will bring the ball up the floor and try to create for himself and others. He is really good for others.” After averaging at least eight assists each of the prior two seasons, James’ average dipped slightly to 7.2 per game in 2025-26. With the offensive weapons in Philadelphia’s starting lineup, he could experience an increase in that category next season, which should help his fantasy value.

The report comes after LeBron James’ decision to sign with the 76ers as a free agent. With Caldwell-Pope potentially heading to Philadelphia after being bought out of Memphis, he’d team up with James, with whom he won an NBA championship back in 2020. The 13-year veteran averaged 8.4 points and shot just 31.6 percent from beyond the arc last season in Memphis.

The LeBron James free agency saga has reached its conclusion, with the future Hall of Fame forward reportedly picking Philadelphia as his new home. Despite being 41 years old, James still has plenty left in the tank, as evidenced by his 2025-26 season with the Lakers. Appearing in 60 games, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 three-pointers while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 73.7 percent from the foul line. While James’ streak of All-NBA selections ended due to his not appearing in 65 games, the production remained good enough for him to offer reliable fantasy value. While his fantasy ceiling takes a hit with the move to Philadelphia, LeBron’s floor should be fine, with the occasional spike when factoring in Joel Embiid’s injury history.

Vogel was last an NBA head coach in 2023 with the Suns, who fired him after just one season. His previous stop is perhaps more relevant here as he coached the Lakers and won a championship with LeBron James in 2020. With James reportedly considering joining the Warriors in free agency this offseason, Vogel joining Golden State’s coaching staff is notable, though nothing is guaranteed. Vogel has also coached the Magic and the Pacers.

Westbrook, 37, is an obvious fit for the Heat in the wake of the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He still has something left in the tank and would come cheap, which is a necessity for Miami at this point. Of course, Westbrook is out of the picture if LeBron decides to join Giannis in Miami. James is yet to make a decision in free agency and is reportedly also considering Cleveland, Golden State and Philadelphia.

James, who turns 42 in December, will play his 24th season in the NBA. However, it is not known which team he’ll suit up for. According to agent Rich Paul, the future Hall of Fame forward has informed the Lakers that he will not be re-signing with the team. Given the amount of money now tied up in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, James’ decision is surprising but not a seismic shock. In recent days, the Warriors have been rumored as a potential destination, with Draymond Green opting out of the final year of his deal to free up additional money for the franchise to make moves. While Dončić was already one of the first players to be selected in fantasy drafts, James’ exit raises Reaves’ ceiling in 2026-27.

After beginning training camp competing for a spot in the 76ers’ rotation, the combination of his play and injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George led to Barlow becoming a fixture in the starting lineup. Starting 59 of the 71 games he appeared in, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.8 minutes. Barlow’s production wasn’t enough to make him a consistent factor in fantasy basketball. Still, the recent injury histories of Embiid and George mean he should offer streaming value at a minimum.

James, who turns 42 in December, is an unrestricted free agent. And for the first time in his NBA career, he is not viewed as the priority signing going into free agency. The Lakers have prioritized building around Luka Dončić, including a desire to re-sign free-agent guard Austin Reaves. Given what Reaves’ price tag is expected to be, LeBron may have to take a significant pay cut to return to the Lakers. Agent Rich Paul said during a media appearance on Friday that “10-12 teams” have reached out to him regarding James, so he’ll have options in free agency. While James can still be a highly effective option for fantasy managers, his age has lowered the ceiling for 2026-27.

James’ final game of the season was a solid one when simply glancing at the counting stats. He was one of the Lakers’ three best scorers on the evening, and he led the team in rebounds along the way before finishing his 23rd season with a double-double. James missed the first chunk of the season due to injury but eventually returned to log 60 regular-season games. His numbers declined from the 2024-25 season, and the accomplished veteran also saw a drop in fantasy production. James enters the offseason as an NBA free agent. Where he ends up next season could determine his fantasy outlook.