David Griffin: Sixers have “leg up” in LeBron sweepstakes

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 

By now, everyone is aware of just how important this offseason is for the Philadelphia 76ers.

They could be in play for a multitude of big-name free agents in what could be a make-or-break situation for the Sixers moving forward. This offseason could prove a lot into whether the Sixers are interested in making a run at a Championship sooner rather than later.

One free agent that most people are hoping the Sixers can get this offseason is none other than LeBron James.

One guy that might know LeBron better than anyone else is former Cleveland Cavaliers' GM David Griffin, who gave an interview on the Zach Gelb Show for CBS Sports Radio on Sunday. Griffin told Gelb his thoughts on the possibility of James signing on with Philly this July.

"I don't know what boxes he would be checking. I think staying in the East probably gives him the best chance to win a championship if he was going to leave Cleveland. Maybe staying in Cleveland gives him the best chance to get there, I don't know. If I knew what boxes he was going to check, I'd have a better feel for it."

"I do think it is significant, though, that Rich Paul is the representative for Ben Simmons as well. So he's going to know the organization very well, and I think that will certainly give them a leg up, because I know Brett Brown is somebody that you're going to look at when you're LeBron, and you're going to look at Pop, you're going to look at the coach in LA … all the teams he's went to, coaching is going to matter. And I think because Ben has intimate knowledge of Coach Brown, that will probably help."

Aside from Griffin's comments during this particular interview, the connection between LeBron and the Sixers has stemmed since the start of this past season, and really, last offseason when Sixers' point guard Ben Simmons worked out with LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and others during the summer. That Rich Paul connection is really key in connecting the dots on a possible signing of James to the 76ers in just a month's time.

Gelb asked Griffin's opinion on the Bryan Colangelo Twitter Scandal, trying to see if the situation will affect whether or not the Sixers will be able to draw free agents still with that whole thing looming over their heads.

"I don't put much stock in anything that's being discussed right now, and I think when there's something worth noting, the team or Bryan will," Griffin said.

Trending: Adam Silver is accountable for the Bryan Colangelo Debacle

Earlier in the week, after the news broke about Colangelo's alleged use of burner Twitter accounts to bash players, media, and Sixers team personnel over the course of the last two years, ESPN's Brian Windhorst explained why he believes the Colangelo situation ultimately won't decide whether or not LeBron James chooses to sign with the Sixers in the end.

"It's not like LeBron doesn't know what Philly has to offer," Windhorst said. "You don't impress LeBron James with presentations anymore. You impress LeBron James with building a quality team. Let me say this, LeBron does not care who the GM is."

The Sixers seemed like they had a really good chance of capturing the talents of LeBron James before this whole Twitter fiasco went down with Bryan Colangelo last Tuesday. After the fact, the feeling of optimism has dwindled significantly. Perhaps all hope isn't lost for the Sixers in pursuit of arguably the greatest basketball player that ever lived, but much of the hope will be restored if the team does indeed cut bait with Colangelo once and for all.

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