LeBron James targeted by shock NBA suitor following Lakers departure

More information regarding LeBron James' next NBA destination has been revealed, with a shock NBA team entering the equation.

James announced his exit from the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this week, having spent almost a decade with the franchise and winning the 2020 'Bubble' NBA Championship.

Prior to that move, James resided in Cleveland with the Cavaliers, his hometown franchise, making it to four consecutive NBA Finals with various rosters.

In 2016, the NBA GOAT contender produced his finest hour, with an unprecedented Finals comeback from 3-1 down against the Steph Curry-led Golden State Warriors.

Having gone 73-9 in the regular season, James' role in the historic comeback, with no team having won the Finals from being down 3-1, was praised as the highlight of his career.

The Warriors would go on to become the Cavs man's foil, beating him in his other three Finals appearances, including a sweep in 2018 during James' greatest play-off season to date.

Strangely, that franchise has long been touted as one of James' most likely next destinations, just behind another return to the Cavaliers, but a shock NBA suitor has emerged in the race for the 41-year-old's signature.

Philadelphia 76ers emerge strongly in hunt for LeBron James' services

According to NBA transfer expert Shams Charania of ESPN, the Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as strong contenders in the league-wide pursuit of James' signature.

Speaking on Sports Centre, Charania revealed: “I’m told the Sixers are also trying to make a pitch to LeBron James.

"Include the Sixers and maybe one or two other teams in due time in that mix," he continued.

Should those other two franchises be the Warriors and the Cavaliers, it would appear that the 76ers have became the third of an unlikely trio in the mix to secure James' services.

The Cavaliers were beaten in the Eastern Conference Finals this year by eventual NBA Championship winners the New York Knicks, in a 4-0 sweep.

Elsewhere, the 76ers staged a historic play-off comeback of their own, returning from 3-1 down against the Boston Celtics in the first round.

The Warriors did not make the play-offs, leading to questions surrounding coach Steve Kerr's future, however, he has since signed a new deal with the franchise.

The Miami Heat also remain a distinct possibility when considering James' next destination, as the final team of James' three previous franchises, now an ex-Lakers, Cavaliers and Heat man.

With that franchise, the NBA icon won two of his four Championships, and the Heat recently signed former MVP and Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in what is shaping up to be an alluring roster for James to join.

As it stands, the 41-year-old's destination is unknown, however, the 76ers were previously amongst the less likely teams to pursue and sign James this summer.

Wherever he goes, it will almost certainly be the final jersey that he wears in an illustrious, soon-to-end NBA career, that will go down in history as one of, if not the best of all time.