LeBron 76ers fantasy value dips in ESPN rankings after move
ESPN projects LeBron James' 76ers move will squeeze shots, lower rankings and put health management at the center of fantasy drafts.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The LeBron 76ers fantasy value debate has its first cold splash: ESPN's fantasy basketball staff says James' move to Philadelphia could lift the title chase while trimming the fantasy ceiling for nearly every big name involved.
James is joining the Philadelphia 76ers for his 24th, and possibly 25th, NBA season, according to ESPN. In ESPN's video coverage, Shams Charania said James chose Philadelphia because of its championship-ready roster, and ESPN said free agency had been informally waiting on his decision.
Based on Philadelphia's current roster, ESPN laid out a possible starting five of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James and Joel Embiid. That group carries star power, but ESPN's fantasy analysis says the Sixers' push for their first NBA championship since 1983 could mean careful regular-season workload choices, especially for James and Embiid.
What is LeBron James' fantasy value with the 76ers?
ESPN projects James to slide from roughly top-40 fantasy territory to around top-60 after joining the Sixers. The reason is plain: there are more high-usage scorers in Philadelphia, and ESPN expects James to take fewer shots while doing more playmaking.
The availability math is just as loud. ESPN noted that since his 2020 title, James has appeared in 74% of available regular-season games, about 61 games per year. Since Embiid's 2023 MVP season, ESPN said Embiid has played 39% of available regular-season games, or 32 per year. If those rates repeat, ESPN estimated the two former MVPs could share the court fewer than 25 times in the regular season.
How ESPN sees the Sixers' lineup shaking out
When James and Embiid both play, ESPN expects the offense to be crowded with options. Edgecombe is coming off what ESPN called an excellent rookie year with 20-point-per-game potential, while Maxey, Brown, James and Embiid have each averaged more than 28 points in at least one of the past four seasons.
In that full-strength version, ESPN's projection puts Maxey, Brown and Embiid in the mid-20s as scorers, with James and Edgecombe in the mid-teens. ESPN sees James and Maxey both capable of topping six assists per game, while James and Embiid would likely lead the team in rebounding.
If Embiid sits, ESPN says Adem Bona would currently project as the starting center. Because Bona is described as more of a defender and rebounder than scorer, ESPN expects more room and shot volume for James, Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe, with Edgecombe potentially moving closer to 20 points per game.
If James is out, ESPN expects Maxey to return to the lead creator role. Embiid can run offense too, according to ESPN's analysis, though more as a scorer than a passer. ESPN also pointed to Anfernee Simons as a sixth-man scorer who could shoot at a similar rate to James.
The draft board damage
- ESPN projects Maxey dropping from a possible top-12 fantasy pick to around top-25 in points and category formats.
- Brown is projected around top-40.
- Edgecombe is placed around top-75 in points leagues and top-100 in category leagues.
- Embiid remains top-25 when active, according to ESPN, but could be closer to a borderline top-100 pick if he again plays fewer than 40% of available games.
ESPN's bottom line is tidy but painful for fantasy managers: the Sixers may have become more dangerous in real basketball, while their stars became harder to draft cleanly in fantasy.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.