The Philadelphia 76ers won the LeBron James sweepstakes, a move that solidified their status as one of the favorites to win the 2027 NBA championship. James joined a core that already has All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, former MVP Joel Embiid, and rising star VJ Edgecombe.
Amid the euphoria in Philadelphia, Draymond Green said on Tuesday that not all came out as winners when the four-time MVP took his talents to the City of Brotherly Love.
LeBron James’ Move to Philadelphia Has One Clear Loser, According to Draymond Green
The former Los Angeles Lakers’ arrival will unquestionably change the dynamics within the 76ers. Before James decided to join the team, the core of Maxey, Embiid, Brown, and Edgecombe were expected to get the lion’s share of the minutes and opportunities.
With the 22-time do-it-all superstar on the roster, the Golden State Warriors veteran identified who among the 76ers’ mouthwatering quintet will have to sacrifice the most.
“Young fella got a great rookie year; he coming back into his second year thinking, ‘Yo, this is my chance to take that jump.’ He kinda fifth option. When you look at the biggest loser in this situation, it’s arguably VJ Edgecombe.” Green said.
“This could affect a lot for VJ Edgecombe. You go from being the second option when Embiid was out sometimes to being the fifth option. I don’t know if y’all understand, like, how big of a difference that is.”
Green added that with four established stars looking to carry the offense, Edgecombe’s primary task every night would be to guard the opposing team’s best perimeter player. The 2017 Defensive Player of the Year emphasized that the rookie would have to sacrifice and acknowledge the situation to have an impact on the 76ers.
Unsurprisingly, Green has a point. Maxey often did the heavy lifting on offense, while Embiid did his part for some stretches. When the big man was out, Edgecombe stepped up, finishing this past season with 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 43.8%, including 35.4% from behind the arc, to end his campaign as the third-best rookie.
Edgecombe was already set to lose some touches after the 76ers acquired Brown early this month in a shocking trade with the Boston Celtics. The All-NBA guard, who finished sixth in MVP voting, averaged 28.7 ppg this past season. Philly would lean on him to have a key impact offensively, even with James on board.
Offensively, Edgecombe’s offense could take a step back. However, he showed stretches this past season where he was an impactful defender.
Green is right. The 20-year-old guard could take the opportunity to learn from the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and still be a significant contributor to the 76ers’ championship aspirations.
