The Philadelphia 76ers already made one of the biggest moves of the season by acquiring Jaylen Brown, but there is another trade proposal that suggests they shouldn’t stop there if they are serious about landing LeBron James.
CBS Sports Sam Quinn floated a blockbuster trade idea that would reunite LeBron with Anthony Davis, and trying to lure LeBron to join one of the most talented starting lineups.
The proposal looks like this.
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Anthony Davis
Washington Wizards receive: Joel Embiid, 2033 Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick, 2027 Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick swap, 2030 Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick swap
The Sixers have already emerged as one of the leading contenders to sign LeBron after he left the Los Angeles Lakers after an eight-year stint. They already have one of the best starting lineups with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jaylen Brown. And they are looking to add LeBron in free agency.
Joel Embiid might be the most dominant scorer in the league, but he is still one of the most injury-prone stars in the league. He has played in 96 games in the last three seasons. Embiid played 38 games last season, 19 games in 2024-25, and 39 games in the 2023-24 season.
This proposal is definitely risky, as the Sixers would be trading one injury-prone star for another. But there are definitely benefits to this move.
Davis and LeBron led the Lakers to the 2020 championship team and spent six seasons together. They still remain close friends to date, and adding him to the team would increase their chances of landing LeBron.
The Sixers Make A Risky Bet To Land The King
Davis has major injury concerns of his own and played in just 20 games last season. He still averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 50.6% from the field. Defensively, he still remains one of the best bigs in the league and can give opponents nightmares if he manages to stay healthy.
His fit next to Maxey and Brown would work extremely well. And he would not have to carry such a massive load on the other side of the floor.
His contract is definitely massive, as he is on three years, $175.3 million contract. He will make $58.4 million next season and has a $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
The Wizards Take a Chance On A Former MVP
While Embiid is massively injury-prone and unreliable, he is still the most dominant scorer in the league when healthy. He played in 38 games last season, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, shooting 48.9% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
Three years ago, he was the MVP of the league. But since then, he has fallen off the top. His contract is also considered the worst in the league, valued at three years, $187 million, but the Wizards would be getting valuable draft picks to make up for it.
They could demand additional picks to make this deal better, as even the Wizards acquired Anthony Davis in February. Their president is confident that he wants to stay, but the Wizards are still a work in progress, and this move would allow Davis to play on a top contender.
This Bold Concept Can Secure The Sixers LeBron James
For Philadelphia, the upside is quite obvious. A lineup with Maxey, VJ, Brown, Davis, and LeBron would create the most talented starting lineup in the league. This move is definitely a major risk, but if the Sixers want to ensure they land LeBron, this could be the trade that seals it.
The Wizards would be getting an MVP-caliber player who has been the face of the franchise for a decade. Embiid still has a lot to prove, and a fresh start could be the thing he needs.
