In short order of the 2026 NBA offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have proliferated top-tier NBA talent in wings Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.
BREAKING: LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports Group and Klutch CEO and Game Over show host Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ALOlTkgdAV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2026
As a roster-building counterpunch, the 76ers, within 24 hours of signing James in free agency, are reported to be the next NBA career stop for guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is negotiating a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season, according to Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Memphis Grizzlies are negotiating a buyout and the veteran 3-&-D specialist intends to team back up with LeBron James and sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/938uLLvV2g
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 25, 2026
Without question, the 76ers are now operating at the highest tier of “win now” mode in the NBA, which calls into question the 76ers' 2026 NBA Draft first-round selection, guard Labaron Philon Jr.
It would be reasonable to conclude that the 76ers have closed the door on devoting developmental minutes to a rookie on a roster that just added James and Brown to a core of guard Tyrese Maxey, guard V.J. Edgecombe, and center Joel Embiid.
If development is off the menu for the 76ers, then the Chicago Bulls should promptly work out a deal to acquire Philon Jr. for a more appropriate guard to fill a roster spot on a veteran-laden roster in the Bulls’ Tre Jones.
Jones is ready for a title run
Bulls fans know Jones is an immensely valuable rotational guard who can step into a starter role when necessary.
In his two seasons in Chicago, Jones has been the bright spot in a mostly mediocre roster, averaging 13.5 points per game, 5.3 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game, according to Basketball Reference.
Jones won’t provide the 76ers much shooting range as a career 31.2% three-point shooter, but he does provide a steady hand for the 76ers’ second unit and an efficient paint-touch game to keep the 76ers' offense moving.
Philon Jr. is eligible for trade starting on Aug 02, 2026, according to Spotrac. Jones is due $8 million for the 2026-27 NBA season, while Philon Jr.’s rookie season will pay him $3.6 million.
The 76ers adding center Johni Broome to the trade would create a more valuable trade for Philadelphia by creating an open roster spot for Pope as a buyout signing, while also reducing the 76ers' net incoming cap number to an additional $2.3 million.
Effectively, the 76ers would acquire Tre Jones for veteran minimum money.
Can’t-miss optionality
For a Bulls front office, led by executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, who extols flexibility in his roster decisions, landing two young roster acquisitions in Philon Jr. and Johni Broome is exactly the result he should be striving to accomplish in a rebuild.
The jury is out on Dailyn Swain after a less-than-inspiring summer league performance, so it would be great to get some Swain insurance in Labaron Philon Jr. if the eventual Swain verdict doesn’t rule in favor of the Bulls' future.
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