Sixers send clear message to the Spurs they can't ignore

After being a fringe playoff team last season, the Philadelphia 76ers leveled up in a big way this summer. By doing so, they also sent a clear message to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Sixers added Jalen Brown and LeBron James to the mix while already having Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. That gives them an embarrassment of riches.

They suddenly boast arguably the best starting lineup in the NBA. Of course, that could be seen as a direct response to both the New York Knicks and Spurs, who enter next season as title favorites.

The Sixers may derail a potential Knicks and Spurs NBA Finals rematch

The Sixers might not have any beef with the Spurs, but San Antonio is widely seen as a potential dynasty in the making. As for the Knicks, Philly and New York have a longstanding rivalry dating back to the beginning of the league itself.

Point is, the Sixers entered the offseason with a clear goal to improve enough to make the NBA Finals. Against all odds, they managed to make it happen.

Who would have thought that the Boston Celtics would trade a homegrown star to a rival for pennies on the dollar? Or that the 76ers would convince LeBron to sign with them.

Now, they may have overtaken the Knicks in terms of raw talent, and that might be a problem for the Spurs. The 76ers may boast the most stacked starting five in the NBA with Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, LeBron, and Embiid.

Of course, their success hinges on Embiid being able to stay healthy for around 60 regular-season games and throughout the NBA Playoffs.

The Sixers may pose a problem to the Spurs in a potential NBA Finals showdown

If that happens, then they could very well win the East. The Spurs don't have a cakewalk to the NBA Finals, but if the two teams were to meet, they might give the Silver and Black problems.

Maxey is an elite shooter and blazing fast and might even give Stephon Castle fits. Meanwhile, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie would be matched up against two all-stars in Brown and LeBron, while Wembanyama would have his hands full against Embiid.

On paper, it's a scary matchup, but the Spurs might have some clear advantages. A motivated Fox could have a big bounce-back season, giving the Spurs a much-needed second option.

Also, Castle and Dylan Harper may each make big leaps next season. Then, of course, there's Wembanyama, who could be even better next year and truly establish himself as the best player in the NBA. In which case, that could tip the scales in the Spurs' favor.

That potential matchup is still months away, and there is no guarantee the Spurs or the Sixers even make it to the NBA Finals. The 76ers clearly made their offseason moves with the Spurs and Knicks in mind.

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