Next season, the Indiana Pacers are going to be looking to reenter the championship picture next season, but the Eastern Conference is getting tougher and tougher. There is already a ton of talent in the conference, but if LeBron James joins the conference, it will get even worse for the Pacers. Especially if he joins Jaylen Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philly is already stacked. The Sixers traded Paul George, two firsts, and two seconds to the Boston Celtics, landing Brown in the deal. Now, they’re going to roll out a lineup with Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. Not only will that group be one of the best in the East, but it has the potential to be one of the best in the NBA.
If James were to join them, they would add even more talent. And that would make it much harder for the Pacers to make a run back to the NBA Finals.
Pacers need LeBron James to avoid the 76ers (and the East)
Indy will have a chance. Last year, they proved that will always be the case if Tyrese Haliburton is on the court and healthy. Though he will have to prove that he’s healthy next season.
But if he is, then the Pacers will be in a good place. Their roster is solid. It’s almost identical to the one that they had when they made a run to the Finals in 2025.
Ivica Zubac is in town in place of Myles Turner, but outside of that, the depth is similar. Andrew Nembhard. Aaron Nesmith. TJ McConnell. Obi Toppin. And perhaps most importantly, Pascal Siakam, who was great for the Pacers in the playoffs.
That said, the Eastern Conference has gotten a lot better since last year, and next season is shaking up to be one of the most competitive seasons the East has seen in a while.
And if James joins Brown on the 76ers, the conference would get even more competitive. The Sixers would have four All-Star-caliber players in their starting lineup, as well as Edgecombe, who looks like a future All-Star.
James joining the Sixers – or any team in the Eastern Conference, for that matter – would make life hard for Haliburton and the Pacers as they attempt to get back to the Finals.
There is a ton of talent in the Eastern Conference. That doesn’t mean the Pacers don’t have a chance to get back to the Finals; they do. But it will be hard. And if James joins Brown and the 76ers, it will be even harder.
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