The Knicks’ reign in the east may be over, Stephan A. Smith says.
On ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith reacted to LeBron James signing with Philadelphia , warning that the 76ers are now “right in with New York as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.”
Smith credited Sixers president of sports Bob Myers for crafting a team that can compete with anyone, including the defending champion Knicks that swept Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs this season.
“Now you have Jaylen Brown, who’s big time, with Tyrese Maxey, who’s big time, with VJ Edgecombe, who signed as a rookie and has tremendous potential…” Smith said. “If Joel Embiid is 50%, I mean, if he can give you anything during the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers could win the championship.”
Myers has plenty of experience building championship teams, spending 2012-23 as the Warriors’ general managerand winning four NBA championships.
Smith explained that while he’s impressed with executives’ ability to get Lebron, he is equally surprised.
The sports personality didn’t think James would join a team in the East other than Cleveland.
Smith isn’t the only one surprised, though. The prediction market Kalshi had the Sixers at just an eight percent chance of claiming the 41-year-old entering Friday.
James also took a larger paycut than many were expected to fit the Philadelphia roster.
The Akron, Ohio, native signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option marking a nearly $50 million pay cut per year from his $52 million salary with the Lakers.
James was always expected to take a paycut, with widely reported suitors such as Cleveland, Miami, Golden State limited to veteran-minimum or exception-level offers, yet the figure is still surprising.
Even with the slim salary, ESPN cap expert Bobby Marks says the Sixers are around $572,000 above the first apron after the signing.
Myers and co. will have to cut someone or make a trade before the season in order to create the cap room James needs.
For now, though, Philadelphia fans can be satisfied looking at a starting lineup of Maxey, Edgecombe, Embiid, Brown and James and dream of beating the Knicks in 2027.
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