LeBron James: Top 5 free agency destinations in 2018

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The Bulls will have a ton of flexibility next summer, but nobody is projected to have more practical cap space than the Philadelphia 76ers (per Spotrac). They won’t approach that league-leading $61.1 million figure in practical cap space, since they have team options for Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Richaun Holmes, Furkan Korkmaz, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and T.J. McConnell to account for.

However, J.J. Redick ($27.6 million cap hold), Amir Johnson ($13.2 million) and Nik Stauskas ($11.4 million) could be renounced or sign with other teams in free agency next summer, clearing up ample room. Trading Jahlil Okafor without taking on salary could get an additional $6.3 million off the books.

In any event, if LeBron James is looking for an exciting collection of young talent to groom and decides to remain in the weaker East, there’s no better option than the Sixers. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Saric, Korkmaz, Luwawu-Cabarrot…who wouldn’t want to play with such a fun young core, especially with cap space to add more star talent?

This possibility hinges on the Sixers’ core youngsters not only staying healthy, but impressing in 2017-18. Embiid has to prove he can stay on the floor and continue his upward trajectory toward superstardom. Fultz and Simmons have to throw their names into the Rookie of the Year conversation. The auxiliary pieces have to click and the Sixers have to lock in a playoff spot.

But if they can do all these things, and The Process finally puts together its first legitimately trustworthy season, the Sixers and their substantial cap space have to be in the running, especially if LeBron wants to leave Cleveland but still remain in the East.