CJ McCollum: LeBron James to 76ers 'A Bigger Possibility Than People Think'

Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum believes LeBron James could be bound for the City of Brotherly Love in free agency. 

On the debut episode of his podcast, Pull Up with CJ McCollum, the Blazers sharpshooter connected some dots and stated why he believes the Sixers could wind up being LeBron's next team. 

"He's always calculated about his decision-making process going back to his youth," McCollum said (h/t Slam's Ryne Nelson). "Ben [Simmons] is his young guy. Ben is a member of Klutch Sports, so that also could play a factor. Philly is in the Eastern Conference. LeBron has been fond of the Eastern Conference throughout his career on what seems to be his EZ-Pass to the Finals. I think it's a bigger possibility than people think."

As always, James has played his impending decision close to the vest. 

He's resisted lines of questioning about his future in sessions with the media, and he dispelled a report from ESPN.com's Chris Haynes that he could take a meeting with the Golden State Warriors as "nonsense." 

"It's nonsense, and it's a non story," James said in February, per Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon. "I think it's a discredit to what I'm trying to do here. It's a discredit to my teammates and the coaching staff here.

"My only focus right now is trying to figure out how we can become a championship-caliber team in these next few months."

While James has refused to indulge speculation, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wrote last month he's "consistently heard from multiple league sources that LeBron currently has only four teams on his list: the Cavaliers, Lakers, Rockets and 76ers."

Simmons, meanwhile, had some fun with inquiring minds at the All-Star break when he posted a photo with James and fellow Klutch Sports clients John Wall and Tristan Thompson with the caption, "June 30th Midnight," which is when NBA free agency will officially start: 

With the Sixers already ahead of schedule and flirting with 50 wins, it's safe to say adding James to a core that already includes Simmons, Joel Embiid and Markelle Fultz would propel Philadelphia to the top of the Eastern Conference hierarchy.