Blockbuster! The LeBron James saga finally comes to a close after close to a month of waiting for an announcement. James has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining forces with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid.
This move should result in a seismic shift in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are the most talented starting five on paper in the NBA right now after this move. Now back in the Eastern Conference, James won’t have to deal with the monsters that are the Thunder and Spurs.
Now with James, the 76ers have a ball handler and true facilitator, which was the one hole they had. There are infinite ways to say how huge this move is, but how does Philadelphia stack up against the rest of the conference?
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5. Cleveland Cavaliers
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts in the third quarter against the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cavaliers miss out on a James second homecoming. Even so, this core just reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Cleveland has great paint defenders in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have shown they can win regular-season games and can have spurts of greatness in the playoffs. This core just isn’t enough against the top-tier teams in the East.
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4. Detroit Pistons
May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) celebrates in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Yes, they did lose to the Cavaliers in the playoffs this past season. Even so, Cade Cunningham established himself as a top 10 player in the NBA.
Detroit was the No. 1 seed in the East last season, and they’ve added some extra shooting by acquiring Isiah Joe. If the Pistons bring back Jalen Duren, who was All-NBA last year, they’re going to win a ton of games.
The lack of reliability in the playoffs is what holds them out of the top three.
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3. Boston Celtics
Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates his three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
It’s easy to be down on the Celtics after they traded Jaylen Brown away for a lackluster return. That doesn’t mean Boston won’t still be good, though. The Celtics still have the infrastructure full of winners.
Jayson Tatum, if fully healthy, is one of the most versatile wings in the league. Paul George certainly isn’t Jaylen Brown, but can still provide a secondary scoring punch and great defense.
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The rest of the roster is filled with shooting and hard-nosed defenders, and adding Mitchell Robinson will give them a huge boost in the interior.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The 76ers could easily slot at No. 1, but since no games have been played yet, the No. 2 spot feels appropriate. As said before, this is an uber-talented roster. James will likely be the third or fourth leading scorer, but will lead the team in assists.
The question for the 76ers is how deep their rotation can go, and of course, how healthy Joel Embiid can stay.
1. New York Knicks
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Jalen Brunson. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Now would be the perfect time to forget how good the Knicks were this year, but it wouldn’t be right to do so. The reigning NBA Champions deserve their respect, and Jalen Brunson currently holds the title as the best player in the conference.
Brunson isn’t alone either; the core around him, with Karl Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, proved to be one of the most balanced and talented teams in the league.
Until proven otherwise, the Knicks are the kings of the East, and the NBA.
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