The Eastern Conference Team That Needs LeBron the Most Is...

Philadelphia. If you thought I would say the Cavaliers, here why I didn't. The Cavaliers seem to be on their last shot at winning an NBA title, especially with Dan Gilbert doing things that ensure LeBron won't come back (i.e., firing David Griffin). Cleveland should solely focus on rebuilding if LeBron doesn't come back, especially with the amount of money they currently have tied up to players. They can reshuffle as much as they like. However, Cleveland won't be able to do a damn thing as long as Golden State's relevant.

Speaking of the Warriors, the 76ers can put themselves in the same league as the Warriors if they add LeBron. James (28.6 PPG, .488 FG %, 8.9 RPG for his career in the postseason) is a player who steps up when the chips are down--believe it or not--and Philadelphia will stand to benefit from his veteran leadership, especially with a young team. Add LeBron to a team with Joel Embiid, a colossal superstar, and a forward who's hard to guard in Ben Simmons and you get a team with even more size and skill.

Also consider this. With the way the Toronto Raptors are playing, echoes of a rebuild are growing louder with every loss in the second round. Milwaukee has a young team like Philadelphia, but they're trying to make the pieces fit. The Knicks are starting from scratch and everyone else is either just there or rebuilding. Philly's only major competition in the near future is the opponent who's close to sweeping them this round: the Boston Celtics. Considering how Boston has handled this series (and the playoffs, in general) without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have shown they have depth in spades. That is a model that the 76ers are hoping will come to fruition for them.

With Boston manhandling a young 76ers team right now, a player like LeBron can be a game-changer. James does great at coaching and mentoring younger players and will be the help that Simmons and Embiid need. LeBron can also continue to dominate the Eastern Conference and try to boost his paltry record in the NBA Finals. It's almost like a match made in heaven for the 76ers, almost as good as a Philly cheese steak.