Hoops Wire

Category: 76ers

Latest Philadelphia 76ers Rumors and News.

  • Kevin Love’s agent has been in contact with Sixers about possible LeBron reunion

    Kevin Love’s agent has been in contact with Sixers about possible LeBron reunion

    Kevin Love and LeBron James together again? It’s at least been discussed.

    Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, has been in contact with the 76ers since James announced he was signing with Philadelphia, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

    Love and James, of course, spent four seasons together with the Cavaliers, reaching four straight NBA Finals and winning the 2016 championship. They’ve remained close since James left Cleveland and even vacationed together earlier this summer.

    Love would have interest in joining James in Philadelphia and chasing another championship, McMenamin reported.

    Actually making it happen could be a little more complicated.

    The Sixers are currently just $1.83 million below their first-apron hard cap and have 14 players on standard contracts. That leaves them without enough room to add Love on a veteran minimum deal before the season unless they make another roster move.

    Philadelphia could create room by waiving Jabari Walker, whose $2.58 million salary is only partially guaranteed. But the Sixers reportedly like Walker and would prefer to keep the 24-year-old forward.

    Love, who turns 38 in September, averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 37 appearances with the Jazz last season while shooting 37.3 percent from three.

    McMenamin added that Love also remains close with Utah coach Will Hardy and was considered a valuable veteran presence in the Jazz locker room.

    So a reunion with James is hardly imminent. But after four Finals trips, one championship and plenty of history together in Cleveland, Love apparently wouldn’t mind giving it another run.

  • Sixers’ Mike Gansey: LeBron James will ‘elevate everyone in the whole building’

    Sixers’ Mike Gansey: LeBron James will ‘elevate everyone in the whole building’

    New 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey isn’t overly concerned about how LeBron James will fit alongside Philadelphia’s collection of stars.

    Gansey told ESPN that James’ ability to adapt has long been one of his greatest strengths.

    “LeBron’s a connector. That’s the one thing about him,” Gansey said. “He fits every role you possibly can. He’s gonna elevate everyone in the whole building.”

    That includes Joel Embiid, whose fit alongside James has been one of the bigger questions surrounding the Sixers since James signed with Philadelphia in free agency.

    Gansey said he went back and watched James and Embiid playing together with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics when Philadelphia emerged as a possible destination.

    “Those two played pretty well together,” Gansey said. “We have so many different options. Any given night anyone can be the guy. So I think once we get clicking and get gelling, it’s gonna be fun to watch.”

    Not everyone around the NBA is as convinced.

    An anonymous assistant coach recently told Mark Medina of Fadeaway World that the James-Embiid combination could be “unstoppable” or “hard to watch,” questioning whether their age and deliberate styles will mesh.

    The Sixers clearly see considerably more upside.

    Gansey has assembled a roster featuring James, Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, giving Philadelphia no shortage of options as it enters the season clearly among the favorites in the Eastern Conference.

  • Jaylen Brown says he and Jayson Tatum haven’t really spoken since trade

    Jaylen Brown says he and Jayson Tatum haven’t really spoken since trade

    Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum spent nine seasons together, reached two NBA Finals and won a championship with the Celtics.

    Since Brown was traded to the 76ers? They haven’t talked much.

    Asked Thursday whether he and Tatum have spoken since the blockbuster deal, Brown offered a brief answer.

    “Not really,” he said.

    Brown didn’t suggest there’s any major issue between the longtime teammates. In fact, he spoke warmly about what they accomplished together in Boston.

    “We won a championship together,” he said. “So anybody that you won a championship, you would think that’s what a brotherhood or a lifelong legacy would entail.”

    He also acknowledged there were “ups and downs” in their relationship but said he has nothing but respect for Tatum.

    “Besides when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well,” Brown said.

    Brown spent his first 10 NBA seasons in Boston before being dealt to Philadelphia this summer. He admitted Thursday that he’s still processing the move after spending essentially his entire adult life with the Celtics.

    Now he and Tatum will meet from opposite sides of one of the NBA’s oldest rivalries.

    Whatever their relationship looks like away from basketball, Brown made one part clear: The respect remains.

  • Jaylen Brown on star-studded Sixers: ‘To win, you got to be able to sacrifice’

    Jaylen Brown on star-studded Sixers: ‘To win, you got to be able to sacrifice’

    Jaylen Brown knows what everyone is wondering about the new-look Sixers.

    There is one basketball. There are a whole lot of stars. Brown doesn’t seem particularly concerned.

    Speaking Thursday at his introductory press conference in Philadelphia, Brown acknowledged that a lineup featuring himself, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will require some adjustment.

    “Obviously it’s a lot of guys with talent and egos,” Brown said. “But to win, you got to be able to sacrifice, you got to be able to have trust and communicate.”

    That’s easier said than done, of course. Brown is coming off an All-NBA season in which he finished sixth in MVP voting. James and Embiid have spent much of their careers as the focal points of their respective offenses. Maxey has developed into a star in his own right.

    Brown insists none of that matters as much as winning.

    “My focus is winning,” he said. “I don’t care about the MVP awards or the Finals MVPs. None of that stuff really moves me. It’s nice, but the only thing that’s gonna move me is doing something collectively, so a championship.”

    Brown also said he’s looking forward to learning from James, calling it an opportunity to soak up knowledge from everything the NBA’s all-time leading scorer has experienced during his career.

    The 29-year-old isn’t ready to crown the Sixers offseason champions, either.

    “Obviously, on paper, we look great,” Brown said. “But let’s all slow down. It takes real work every single day in order to make something like this happen.”

    Brown knows something about that. He spent his first 10 NBA seasons in Boston, winning a championship alongside Jayson Tatum in 2024 and earning Finals MVP honors along the way.

    He admitted Thursday that he’s still processing the trade that sent him to one of the Celtics’ longtime rivals.

    His phone went flying across the room when he initially heard the news. Now he’s ready to move on.

    “I want to come in transparent,” Brown said. “This is what I’m here to do. This is what I want to do. I want to win.”

    RELATED | Kwame Brown predicts ‘circus’ for 76ers

  • NBA execs remain skeptical of LeBron James, Sixers: ‘He’s not gonna move the needle much’

    NBA execs remain skeptical of LeBron James, Sixers: ‘He’s not gonna move the needle much’

    The LeBron James era in Philadelphia has generated plenty of excitement. It has also generated plenty of skepticism around the NBA.

    Speaking to Hoops Wire, two veteran NBA executives questioned whether James, now entering his 24th season, will make the impact many expect after signing with the 76ers this summer.

    “He’s still LeBron, or still has moments where he’ll remind you he was once LeBron,” one NBA general manager told Hoops Wire. “But this is gonna be the chapter where we watch him and say that he stuck around too long.”

    The executive then offered an even harsher prediction.

    “Someday we’ll ask, ‘Remember when LeBron played for the Sixers?’ and laugh.”

    Another executive, this one from the Western Conference, suggested James’ decision not to return to Cleveland may actually benefit the Cavaliers.

    “It’s good, in my opinion, that he didn’t go to the Cavs for their sake,” the GM told Hoops Wire. “He’s not gonna move the needle much.”

    Those opinions certainly aren’t universal.

    James chose Philadelphia because he believes the Sixers give him his best opportunity to compete for a fifth NBA championship. The roster features Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and reigning Rookie of the Year finalist V.J. Edgecombe, giving Philadelphia one of the league’s most talented starting lineups on paper.

    Still, questions remain. James will turn 42 during the season, while Embiid has appeared in just 57 regular-season games over the past two years.

    How those two perform together may ultimately determine whether the Sixers become legitimate title contenders or simply one of the NBA’s biggest storylines.

    The skepticism also isn’t new.

    Since James announced he was signing with Philadelphia, rival executives and coaches have questioned everything from the roster fit to whether the Sixers have enough role players to complement so much star power.

    All of that said, critics are always just that. The real answers won’t start arriving until October, and beyond.

  • NBA Moves: Suns, Dillon Brooks, Sixers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rockets

    NBA Moves: Suns, Dillon Brooks, Sixers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rockets

    Suns

    The Suns are keeping one of last season’s biggest surprises around for the long haul.

    According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Phoenix has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension with forward Dillon Brooks. Suns insider John Gambadoro reported the deal is fully guaranteed and includes no player or team options.

    Brooks enjoyed arguably the best offensive season of his career in his first year with Phoenix, averaging a career-high 20.2 points after arriving from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade.

    The extension is another sign the Suns believe last season’s playoff run wasn’t a fluke. After exceeding expectations in 2025-26, Phoenix has prioritized continuity this offseason, also bringing back Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin.

    As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron noted, Brooks will remain trade-eligible at next February’s deadline because the extension is expected to be finalized before Aug. 11.

    Sixers

    The 76ers officially have another veteran champion in the fold.

    Philadelphia announced the signing of two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, completing a move that had been expected since he reached a buyout agreement with the Grizzlies nearly two weeks ago.

    Caldwell-Pope, 33, joins a loaded Sixers roster that now features LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

    While his production dipped over the past two seasons with Orlando and Memphis, Philadelphia is betting the veteran wing can rediscover the three-and-D form that helped him win championships with the Lakers and Nuggets.

    The Sixers cleared enough financial room to complete the signing by trading rookie Johni Broome to the Clippers last week.

    Rockets

    The Rockets opened a roster spot by waiving guard JD Davison.

    A former second-round pick out of Alabama, Davison appeared in 28 games for Houston last season after spending his first three NBA campaigns with the Celtics organization.

    His biggest success has come in the G League, where he captured MVP honors with the Maine Celtics in 2025 after averaging 25.6 points and 7.7 assists.

    The move also nudges Houston just below the luxury-tax line, giving the Rockets a little more flexibility as they continue shaping the roster before training camp.

  • NBA Notes: Sixers, Jaylen Brown, Clippers, Jalen Pickett, Cole Anthony

    NBA Notes: Sixers, Jaylen Brown, Clippers, Jalen Pickett, Cole Anthony

    Sixers

    Sixers newcomer Jaylen Brown isn’t shying away from the spotlight that comes with joining LeBron James in Philadelphia.

    Speaking during a Twitch stream, Brown said he’s looking forward to learning from James as the Sixers prepare for what figures to be one of the NBA’s most scrutinized seasons.

    “What an opportunity that is,” Brown said. “I love learning, so to have the opportunity to learn from one of, if not the greatest player of all time.”

    Brown acknowledged there will be constant outside noise surrounding the Sixers but said his focus remains on winning. He also revealed he’s dropped about seven pounds this offseason as he prepares to play a faster style alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and James.

    “I feel great,” Brown said. “I’m jumping higher, running faster.”

    Philadelphia reshaped its roster this summer by acquiring Brown and signing James, giving the Sixers one of the league’s most talented starting groups on paper.

    Clippers

    The Clippers are adding some backcourt depth.

    According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Los Angeles has agreed to a two-way contract with guard Jalen Pickett.

    Pickett, 26, spent the past three seasons with the Nuggets after being selected with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He averaged 5.2 points, 2.3 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 50 games last season while shooting nearly 39 percent from three-point range.

    Denver declined its team option before free agency, allowing Pickett to hit the open market.

    He joins Sean Pedulla and rookie Nick Martinelli among the Clippers’ current two-way players, though the club is also expected to finalize a two-way agreement with center Jamarion Sharp.

    Free Agency

    Free agent guard Cole Anthony is taking his game overseas.

    Melbourne United announced that Anthony has signed a one-year contract to play in Australia’s National Basketball League for the 2026-27 season.

    The 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony spent five seasons with the Magic before stops with the Grizzlies, Bucks and Suns. He averaged a career-low 6.7 points with Milwaukee last season and was waived by Phoenix after being traded there in February.

    Melbourne believes the 26-year-old can revive his career.

    “In my conversations with him, it’s been very clear that his primary focus is winning,” coach Jacob Chance said. “I’m confident that his best basketball is still ahead of him.”

    Anthony joins a Melbourne roster that also features former NBA players Joe Ingles, Luke Travers and Josh Oduro.

  • NBA Notes: Celtics, depth, Nets, Mikel Brown Jr, Sixers, roster

    NBA Notes: Celtics, depth, Nets, Mikel Brown Jr, Sixers, roster

    Celtics

    The Celtics no longer look much like the team that won the 2024 championship. That doesn’t necessarily mean they lack depth.

    Jay King of The Athletic wrote that Boston may be deeper than it has been given credit for, even with only a few remaining pieces from that title team.

    The frontcourt remains the obvious question, especially with Mitchell Robinson’s injury history. But Luka Garza showed last season that he can handle spot minutes, and Neemias Queta emerged as one of Boston’s better surprises.

    The Celtics also have plenty of bodies on the wing. In fact, King noted that Jordan Walsh and Ron Harper Jr. could begin the season outside the regular rotation, which says something about the number of usable options on the roster.

    Boston added veteran guard Mike Conley, but King wrote that the Celtics could still use a more reliable third ball-handler.

    Still, the regular-season rotation appears to be in decent shape. Maybe not championship-shape, at least not yet. But probably better than some around the league are assuming.

    Nets

    Mikel Brown Jr. is not talking like a rookie obsessed with numbers.

    The Nets selected Brown with the No. 6 overall pick, hoping they landed their point guard of the future. And as Jed Katz wrote for MSN, Brown seems focused on the things Brooklyn actually needs.

    “It’s about plus-minus with me,” Brown said on Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. “Like if I’m on the court, are we in a plus? Are we, you know, winning the margins?”

    That is exactly the type of mindset the Nets will want from a young point guard as they try to build a more stable culture.

    Brown said he wants fans to know he is “all about winning,” whether that means scoring, playmaking, leading or doing all of the above.

    He also has some notable mentors. Brown mentioned his Louisville connection with Donovan Mitchell and said Rajon Rondo has been helping him with the finer points of seeing the floor and understanding the game.

    For a Nets team that added Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. while still trying to build around youth, Brown’s development will be one of the biggest things to watch.

    Sixers

    The 76ers may be done for the summer. At least for now.

    Philadelphia still has one open roster spot after adding Jaylen Brown in a trade and LeBron James in free agency, but Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice wrote that the Sixers are likely to keep that 15th spot open entering the season.

    The reason is simple enough. Philadelphia is only about $1.8 million below the first-apron hard cap, which is not enough room to sign even a veteran-minimum player at $2.45 million.

    Aaronson also noted that a late offseason trade does not appear likely. Only nine Sixers are currently trade-eligible, and that group includes four starters and first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr.

    So if Philadelphia looks to address backup center, it may have to wait until closer to the trade deadline.

    Aaronson wrote that the Sixers could eventually have decisions to make involving Philon, Anfernee Simons or Ariel Hukporti, depending on how the season unfolds. Hukporti’s $3.4 million salary could be useful in a trade, especially compared to the smaller deals attached to Jabari Walker, Adem Bona and Justin Edwards.

  • Could Ben Simmons return to 76ers on minimum contract?

    Could Ben Simmons return to 76ers on minimum contract?

    Ben Simmons returning to Philadelphia?

    Yes, that rumor is apparently making the rounds.

    Spanish basketball outlet Blog de Basket reported that the 76ers are considering Simmons for their final roster spot on a one-year, minimum-salary contract.

    The report cited sources close to the organization, though no established NBA insider has corroborated the claim.

    So consider this interesting speculation, not an impending transaction.

    Still, there are reasons the idea isn’t completely ridiculous.

    Simmons and LeBron James are both represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Simmons originally worked with Paul through the early years of his career and his max extension before they separated in March 2023.

    He later reunited with Klutch after agent Bernie Lee parted ways with him in September 2025, reportedly following Simmons’ lack of interest in an offer from the Knicks.

    Philadelphia could also use another player capable of defending multiple positions, rebounding and creating for others behind Joel Embiid.

    The key would be Simmons accepting an entirely different role.

    The Sixers wouldn’t need the former No. 1 overall pick to serve as their primary ballhandler or become the player who made three All-Star teams in Philadelphia.

    With James, Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey supplying the offense, Simmons would be asked to screen, defend, pass and perhaps operate as a small-ball center.

    At the minimum salary, the financial risk would be minimal.

    Everything else would be complicated.

    Simmons didn’t play last season while dealing with continued physical issues. His first tenure in Philadelphia also ended badly after the 2021 playoffs, eventually resulting in a trade to the Nets.

    Time can heal plenty. So can lowered expectations.

    A reunion would give Simmons an opportunity to restart his career where it began. It would give the Sixers a low-cost gamble on a player who once possessed a rare combination of size, defense and playmaking.

    But until a more established source confirms Philadelphia’s interest, that’s all this is.

    A rumor with just enough logic to keep an eye on.

  • LeBron James’ New York-to-Philadelphia plan has a Wilt Chamberlain precedent

    LeBron James’ New York-to-Philadelphia plan has a Wilt Chamberlain precedent

    LeBron James may live in New York City and commute to Philadelphia while playing for the 76ers.

    As it turns out, Wilt Chamberlain already showed him how.

    As NBA Base noted in a post on X, Chamberlain reportedly lived in Manhattan and regularly traveled to Philadelphia for games and practices during his time with the Sixers. And apparently, the commute didn’t slow him down much.

    Chamberlain was also said to have spent the night partying in New York without sleeping before scoring an NBA-record 100 points.

    There is one historical distinction worth making. Chamberlain’s 100-point game came in March 1962, when he played for the Philadelphia Warriors. He didn’t join the 76ers until 1965.

    Still, the larger point stands. Wilt lived in New York, played in Philadelphia and found a way to make the arrangement work. Sound familiar?

    A source told Marc Stein of The Stein Line that the possibility of living in New York played a role in James’ decision to sign with the Sixers. Philadelphia gives him the opportunity to maintain residences in both cities while chasing a fifth championship.

    James’ camp previously reached out to the Knicks, sources told Hoops Wire, but New York wasn’t interested. The defending champions preferred to stick with the group that had just won the title. So James found another way to get near New York.

    There’s no indication he intends to follow Wilt’s reported pregame routine. Then again, Chamberlain scored 100 points after supposedly staying out all night, so perhaps nobody was in a position to question his preparation.

    Wilt made the New York-to-Philadelphia commute work more than 60 years ago. Now LeBron may give it a try.

  • Kwame Brown predicts ‘circus’ for LeBron James, star-studded Sixers

    Kwame Brown predicts ‘circus’ for LeBron James, star-studded Sixers

    The 76ers have assembled perhaps the NBA’s most talented lineup. Former No. 1 overall pick Kwame Brown sees something else coming.

    A circus.

    Speaking on his “Bustlife” podcast, Brown questioned how LeBron James will fit alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe. His biggest concern is what James’ arrival could mean for Edgecombe after a breakout rookie season.

    “If I’m VJ Edgecombe and I had the rookie season that I had, I wouldn’t give a Jiminy Cricket that you’re bringing in a 41-, 42-year-old man who’s talking about legacy,” he said. “I’m thinking about my legacy.”

    In Brown’s view, young players are too often asked to limit their own development for the sake of James’ pursuit of another championship.

    “Why do I have to stunt my growth?” he said. “That’s a big ask that everyone keeps asking other players to do for LeBron James’ greatness. And my question is, why?”

    Brown, who finished his 12-year NBA career with Philadelphia, also wondered how James and Jaylen Brown will coexist. He described Brown as direct and analytical, while portraying James as someone who uses his influence more quietly behind the scenes.

    “When those two people meet, I wonder what that’s going to be like,” Kwame Brown said. “That’s going to be interesting.”

    Then there is the Rich Paul factor. Several Sixers are represented by Klutch Sports, and Brown suggested James and Paul will carry considerable influence throughout the organization.

    “This could be a good thing or this could be a circus,” he said. “Listening to what Rich Paul is saying, I think it’s going to be a circus.”

    That’s one way to put it.

    The Sixers undoubtedly have enough talent to win the championship. They also have a lot of stars who are accustomed to playing large roles. Someone will have to sacrifice.

    Brown’s prediction is that the process of deciding who sacrifices what will become the real show.

  • NBA Notes: Thunder, Chet Holmgren, Sixers, LeBron James, Warriors

    NBA Notes: Thunder, Chet Holmgren, Sixers, LeBron James, Warriors

    Thunder

    The Thunder may have lost several key contributors this offseason, but All-Star big man Chet Holmgren said he understands that’s simply part of life in the NBA.

    Speaking at a USA Basketball Foundation event, Holmgren admitted seeing Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe depart in separate trades was difficult.

    “That’s how the business of this game goes,” Holmgren said, via ESPN. “No team, all 17 guys, sticks together forever. But it doesn’t make it hurt less when you see guys go.”

    Despite the roster changes, Holmgren said he has complete faith in executive vice president Sam Presti and the organization’s direction after another deep playoff run.

    76ers

    LeBron James‘ greatest impact in Philadelphia may come as a playmaker as much as a scorer.

    According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, the Sixers already had plenty of offensive firepower after acquiring Jaylen Brown, but James gives them the elite facilitator they’ve been missing. Jones noted Philadelphia also expects James to exploit mismatches, an area that proved costly in last season’s playoff loss to the Knicks.

    Meanwhile, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Brown’s willingness to embrace more of a complementary role alongside James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey could be one of the keys to a championship run.

    Warriors

    The Warriors have officially finalized De’Anthony Melton‘s new contract after agreeing to terms at the start of free agency.

    Melton’s two-year, $11 million deal includes a player option for the second season and was completed using Golden State’s taxpayer mid-level exception, officially hard-capping the Warriors at the second tax apron.

    The veteran guard averaged a career-high 12.3 points in 49 games last season after returning from ACL surgery and is expected to remain a key part of Golden State’s backcourt rotation.

  • Kevin Durant sees similarities between 76ers, Warriors superteams

    Kevin Durant sees similarities between 76ers, Warriors superteams

    Kevin Durant has seen this movie before.

    The Rockets forward believes the 76ers have assembled the NBA’s newest superteam after adding LeBron James to a roster that already featured Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey.

    Speaking during a USA Basketball event, Durant compared Philadelphia’s star-studded lineup to the Warriors teams he helped lead to back-to-back championships after joining Golden State in 2016.

    “The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the team I was on,” Durant said, via ESPN. “(The 76ers) have got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, hell yeah, I think they’re going to be a contender. They’re going to be a fun team to watch. It’s going to be League Pass-worthy.”

    Brown averaged 28.7 points per game last season, followed by Maxey at 28.3 and Embiid at 26.9. James averaged 20.9 with the Lakers, though he has topped the 20-point mark in 20 of his 23 NBA seasons.

    Durant also admitted he had no advance knowledge of James’ decision before the four-time MVP announced he was signing with Philadelphia.

    “I didn’t know at all,” Durant said. “LeBron is stealth like that. I know there’s a lot of noise around him, but you never know what’s on his mind.”

    Durant added that James made “a great decision” by joining a team with legitimate championship aspirations.

    “I’m happy for him,” Durant said. “Philly is a great fanbase, a great market, and it’s great for the league. There were so many eyes that were tuned in to his decision.”

    RELATED | NBA.com ranks Knicks, Sixers, Cavs as East’s beasts

  • Veteran Timberwolves beat writer leaving to cover LeBron, 76ers

    Veteran Timberwolves beat writer leaving to cover LeBron, 76ers

    LeBron James isn’t the only notable addition heading to Philadelphia this offseason.

    Veteran NBA reporter Chris Hine announced Friday that he’s leaving the Minnesota Star Tribune after eight seasons covering the Timberwolves to join the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he’ll take over coverage of the 76ers.

    The move comes little more than a week after James chose the Sixers in free agency, obviously making Philadelphia one of the NBA’s biggest storylines entering next season. OK, probably the absolute biggest.

    Still, Hine indicated the decision wasn’t basketball-related as much as personal.

    “I’m beyond grateful to the Star Tribune, the Timberwolves and Wolves fans for these last eight amazing years,” Hine wrote on social media. “I’ll miss it and all my friends on the beat. I’ll miss my colleagues at the Strib.”

    He added that returning to Pennsylvania allows him to be much closer to family.

    “I’ve been in the Midwest since I moved away for college at 18,” Hine wrote. “It’s time to come back closer to home. I’m lucky to get to continue my career just a two-hour drive or so down the PA Turnpike from them.”

    Hine established himself as one of the NBA’s more respected beat writers during Minnesota’s rise to contention, covering everything from the start of the Anthony Edwards era to the Wolves’ deep playoff runs.

    Now he’ll make the switch to a Sixers team that has quickly become one of the league’s biggest attractions following the additions of James and Jaylen Brown, with championship expectations immediately following.

    RELATED | NBA coach: James, Embiid could be ‘hard to watch’ together