NBA News 2018: Philadelphia Wants LeBron James To Complete The Process
Even with LeBron James focusing on his current situation in Cleveland, there has been a lot of speculation on which team he will choose this summer. A number of recently put-up billboards point to Philadelphia as a possible destination.
James enters free agency this coming summer. Many players were brought in after the trade deadline to restore Cleveland to finals contention, but the probability remains that "The King" may be seen in a new uniform next season.
The billboards were paid for by a Pennsylvania-based company and may be seen by drivers along I-480 in Cleveland. James himself travels via a tinted van and may not have seen the signage. He is flattered, however, that people want him to play for their teams, ESPN reported. At 33, and with 15 years in the NBA, he is not getting any younger.
The first billboard has James' jersey number, 23, with a crown with four other blue numbers. The other numbers are the ones on the jerseys of key Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, and Robert Covington.
A hundred feet away, the next billboard simply says, "Complete the Process." It is like a continuance of the slogan, "Trust the Process," which refers to the 76ers big man, Joel Embiid, a 23-year-old center expected to develop into an even greater player.
The third signage is the most bluntly-worded: "#PhillyWantsLeBron."
Asher Rafael is the co-CEO of Power Home remodeling, which paid for the billboards. Speaking on behalf of the company, Asher stated that they think LeBron will win more championships if he goes to Philadelphia (Philly). It is his opinion that Philly is the best sports town where the best players should want to play.
Philadelphia is actually one of the teams that can accommodate a maximum-salary superstar like James. In July, six of their top high-salary players will see their contracts ended. The team can then have the salary cap space to absorb James' maximum salary of around $35 million or more per season, ESPN reported.
One thing is certain, as illustrated by James' decisions in the past. Wherever he goes, he wants to be part of a competitive finals contender. Philadelphia, when its players are healthy, seems to have the ingredients for such a potent mix. The 76ers had a 7-0 win-loss record after the Superbowl game.
