The expectation in the NBA right now is that LeBron James would decline his player option for next season in order to become a free agency this summer. It is something his agent, Rich Paul, recently hinted to.

Many people also expect James to re-sign with the Lakers after opting out, in one way or another. However, one can never be certain of what he will do or what he has planned for the foreseeable future.

According to Keith Pompey, a Sixers insider, James may be one of the players the franchise targets in free agency in just a few weeks if it fails to get Paul George.

Via The Philadelphia Inquirer:

“The Sixers do have their eyes on other lucrative-salary impact players just in case they don’t get George,” said Pompey.

 “That’s why they also are looking at potential free agents like the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby.”

Throughout the first few months of the season, the Sixers appeared to be a championship-caliber club. However, Joel Embiid’s meniscus injury dashed their title ambitions, and they will need a reinforcement or two to fully contend with Eastern Conference giants like the New York Knicks, who eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs, and the Boston Celtics.

George, a 34-year-old nine-time All-Star, can opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and enter the free agent market this offseason.

According to an Eastern Conference official, the Sixers are the most likely team to choose James’ son Bronny this June. It is believed that if a team selects the younger James in the draft, it may tempt his father to leave the Lakers and join that team.

Sixers president Daryl Morey called the Lakers a few months ago to try to set up a trade for James. However, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka promptly dismissed the proposal.

The story initially appeared on LeBron Wire.