The Chicago Bulls were never on LeBron James' radar. However, that doesn't mean they can't benefit from The King's return to the Eastern Conference, specifically by signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James in the same offseason. Notably, it doesn't get any more 'win now' than that. Also, every time a team gets LeBron, some of his former sidekicks usually make their way to the roster as well.
Considering that, the 76ers should be looking at clearing roster spots to accommodate James' friends. Moreover, they should also reconsider their stance on some of their young players, as they may not be as valuable as they were last week.
That might especially be the case with star rookie Labaron Philon Jr. The guard out of Alabama was already a long shot to play big minutes as a rookie, and with James in town, the Chicago Bulls could have a Godfather-like offer to get him to the Windy City.
The Chicago Bulls should be all over Labaron Philon Jr.
In this scenario, the Chicago Bulls would send the 76ers a win-now, veteran backup guard in Tre Jones, as well as a 2028 first-round pick (via Portland) and a 2027 second-round pick. In return, they'd get Philon and Adem Bona to create an additional roster spot.
Even though he struggled with his shot, Labaron Philon Jr. turned plenty of heads in Summer League, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game. The No. 22 pick, Philon made his way to Philadelphia in the Jared McCain trade.
While he may not have many touches in the City of Brotherly Love, Philon can actually make a difference in Chicago. He'd be the first guy off the bench, and who knows? He might even make Josh Giddey expendable to get the Bulls even more draft capital.
The 76ers would have a cerebral playmaker like Tre Jones as Tyrese Maxey's backup, with Anfernee Simons and LeBron James also rotating there. That would elevate their floor as a championship contender, and they wouldn't have to force-feed a rookie into the mix if he's not ready.
Of course, giving up on a rookie before he plays a single minute is far from common. That said, the Cleveland Cavaliers already did that when they sent Andrew Wiggins packing to the Minnesota Timberwolves to get Kevin Love next to LeBron James, so there's a precedent.
And as much as the Bulls should be looking to hoard first-round picks instead of trading them, having Philon, Daylin Swain, and Caleb Wilson all develop in the same timeline could give this team a big window of opportunity in a couple of years.
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