After weeks of speculation, LeBron James finally decided to join the Sixers as his next (and maybe final) NBA team, where he’ll try to win his fifth Larry O’Brien trophy. As such, Philadelphia’s NBA 2026 odds have jumped up to become one of the league’s championship contenders for the 2026-27 campaign.
Just like 16 years ago when he announced he’d join the Heat, James’ decision sent shockwaves throughout the league. This goes to show he remains a top draw, despite his advancing age.
The Timberwolves also made a huge splash that we’ve yet to cover here at SBOTOP. Minnesota gave Anthony Edwards a new co-star, although competing in the Western Conference remains difficult. On the other hand, there are still several stars who continue to search for new homes after their contracts have expired this summer.
In case you missed it, here are some notable NBA 2026 updates in the past few days.
James joins a stacked Sixers squad
The Sixers have now emerged as a legitimate contender for next year’s NBA championship, as they acquired Jaylen Brown and LeBron James all in one summer. After trading Paul George and multiple draft picks to the Celtics for Brown, Philadelphia signed James to a two-year, $8 million deal.
According to reports, joining the Sixers was not initially part of James’ plan, but the team’s coup of Brown changed his mind. The King also considered joining the Warriors, Heat, and Cavaliers, but the 41-year-old forward felt the Sixers gave him the best shot at winning his fifth Larry O’Brien trophy.
With James in the mix, the Sixers are projected to deploy the star-studded starting five of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and former league MVP Joel Embiid. James will likely serve as their point forward, a role he excels in because he’s a pass-first star. The team also strengthened their bench with the additions of Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Ariel Hukporti. In return, they lost Andre Drummond, Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Dalen Terry.
After confirming James’ arrival, Philadelphia are expected to add Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who negotiated a buyout with the Grizzlies. Caldwell-Pope was a vital cog in James’ previous championship run in 2020 with the Lakers.
Executives Mike Gansey and Bob Myers deserve plaudits for their heist in their first year in charge. However, they now enter next season with huge targets on their backs, as they have a two-year window to get the job done. Otherwise, they’ll be seen as an epic failure.
Timberwolves form new star backcourt duo
Earlier this offseason, the Timberwolves made the bold move of acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Hornets. In the four-team trade involving the Nets and Bulls, Minnesota also received Josh Green and the No. 33 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft (Isaiah Evans) while parting ways with Naz Reid and significant draft capital.
Minnesota probably made this trade to alleviate Edwards’ playmaking responsibilities so that he can fully focus on scoring and defense. Ball is one of the league’s most dynamic floor generals. The 24-year-old guard is coming off his healthiest campaign in the past four years, averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals on 40.7-per cent shooting from the field across 72 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, leading the Hornets deep into the play-in tournament.
With Ball in tow, the Timberwolves are expected to play much faster, which will work to their advantage. Besides Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, Mo Gueye, and Terrence Shannon Jr. will also benefit from Ball’s elite playmaking.
However, Ball’s arrival comes at the cost of depth at the power forward position, as they only have Gueye and McDaniels. So, don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves look to add a veteran big on a team-friendly deal to fill the void.
Who are the other notable free agents remaining?
So, who are the notable free agents remaining after LeBron James’ decision? Well, there are a lot of players still searching for new homes or working on their new contract extensions.
Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson are in increasingly contentious contract standoffs with the Pistons and Nuggets, while Bradley Beal, Kevin Love, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook are among those trying to extend their NBA careers.
James Harden and Draymond Green are expected to negotiate new deals with the Cavaliers and Warriors after opting out of their player options to try and lure James, but to no avail. Bennedict Mathurin, Jonathan Kuminga, Cam Thomas, Bruce Brown, Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk, Gabe Vincent, Nick Richards, and Brandon Williams can help certain teams.
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