“Something Happened”: Bill Simmons Says LeBron James Was Going to the Cavs Before 76ers U-Turn

Philadelphia's interest in LeBron James is nothing new. Back in the summer of 2018, the Sixers were among the first teams to sit down with his camp once free agency opened, with then-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer pitching the idea of pairing him with a young Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. That meeting went nowhere at the time, and James chose the Lakers instead. Nearly a decade later, Philadelphia finally got its wish. But according to Bill Simmons, the road to get there wasn't nearly as straightforward as it looked.

James left the Lakers this offseason and stunned much of the league by signing with the 76ers rather than returning to Cleveland, the team many assumed was the natural fit for what could be the final chapter of his career. On his podcast, Bill Simmons gave his take on the decision.

"It was the decision he made to try and win the title," Simmons said. "I don't think there's any other reason he went there."

"It's not like, 'Oh, I've always wanted to play for the 76ers,'" he said, before dropping the more explosive part of his comments - that Cleveland, not Philadelphia, was actually the frontrunner right up until something derailed it. "But he was going to Cleveland. I don't know what happened. I can't wait for the story. Something happened."

The claim adds a layer of mystery to a free agency saga that already caught much of the NBA off guard. With the Cavaliers unable to get back to the Finals since James left in 2018, a third stint in Cleveland made basketball sense on paper, and reports throughout the summer suggested talks were progressing.

Instead, James pivoted to Philadelphia. He chose to team up with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown on a roster now regarded as one of the league's most star-studded.

Simmons previously stated with confidence that Cleveland was close to a done deal. He even suggested the Warriors were being used as leverage in the negotiations - none of which panned out once James actually signed with Philadelphia.

Whether Simmons's take holds up or not, LeBron James himself hasn't addressed the reported talks in Cleveland or explained his final decision in detail. Until he does, whatever happened behind the scenes and what actually unfolded leaves plenty of room for speculation.