76ers' Bob Myers Pitches LeBron James on Podcast as $16 Million Cap Limits Shape 2026 Free Agency
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 10
76ers' Bob Myers Pitches LeBron James on Podcast as $16 Million Cap Limits Shape 2026 Free Agency
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 10
Summary
Bob Myers used Rich Paul’s "Game Over" podcast to tell LeBron James that Philadelphia offers his “best chance to win,” an unusually public recruiting pitch in a process teams say is otherwise routed through Paul.
Multiple league sources said Myers’ appearance was scheduled before free agency opened, not part of a six-week on-air bidding contest, even as executives from Cleveland, Golden State and Miami remain unable to meet James directly.
Seven teams cited by Paul — including the Cavaliers, 76ers and Warriors — still did not know James’ intentions Thursday, with one executive saying clubs only know “what we read.”
Cap rules have narrowed James’ contract options to about $16 million, $6 million or $4 million after the Lakers renounced his rights, making fit more important than salary for the billionaire star.
The uncertainty has frozen contenders’ plans: Philadelphia traded for Jaylen Brown, Cleveland extended Donovan Mitchell for $273 million, and Golden State still has Draymond Green waiting to re-sign.