A Philadelphia-based company has purchased three billboards on Interstate-480 headed into Cleveland suggesting that LeBron James signs with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer. The first features James’ number, 23, along with the numbers of the 76ers starters, while the next two say “Complete The Process” and “#PhillyWantsLeBron.”
Philadelphia company buys 3 billboards outside Cleveland, Ohio to woo LeBron James
It’s not Ebbings, Missouri, but it’s a cool thing all the same.
Here are the three billboards, in order that they appear.
The company, Power Home Remodeling, bought the billboards in an obvious nod to the currently Oscar-nominated film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but it also draws on real speculation that James might at least consider Philadelphia if he leaves the Cavaliers in free agency this summer.
Philadelphia plays the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Thursday, a TNT game that will provide added publicity for the billboards.
“It’s actually very flattering. I’m sitting here at 33 in my 15th year... People in their respective cities want me to play for them,” James said on Tuesday. “That’s cool, I think. That’s dope.”
But come on — let’s get to the real question.
Will the 76ers sign LeBron?
Philadelphia should be, and by all accounts is, one of the best candidates to sign James. We don’t know if he’s leaving, and we certainly aren’t sure where he’ll go if he does, but Philadelphia seems to check off a lot of his boxes. Like ...
- James has said he wants a max contract. He has taken small discounts before, but not this summer. With $67 million on the books for next season, Philadelphia wouldn’t have to make many moves to free up James’ $35 million, if they would have to do that at all.
- James’ biggest priority is winning now. Philadelphia is just a couple games behind the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference and firmly look like a playoff squad. They’re young, but they’re winning now and James would make them so much better.
- James loves playing with his friends. Look at him, hanging out with his friends at All-Star Weekend! (Ben Simmons is also signed to Klutch Sports Group and not-so-subtly hinting at free agency with that caption.)
I don’t think James will sign with Philadelphia — his fit with Simmons isn’t ideal, and Joel Embiid is an injury away from leaving James stuck in a really rough situation. But there’s no perfect landing spot for James — San Antonio’s stuck with the strange Kawhi Leonard situation, Cleveland is still owned by Dan Gilbert, the Lakers still aren’t a good basketball team, Miami can’t even be considered due to their bloated cap space, and the Rockets would be facing an extremely tricky cap situation of their own if James commits.
Philadelphia definitely has a chance, billboards or not.
