Bob Myers' appearance on Rich Paul's podcast to make a public pitch for the Philadelphia 76ers to sign LeBron James was scheduled before James' free agency began. Multiple league sources with direct knowledge of the situation said the same appearances are not expected from other teams pursuing James.

The 76ers' chief executive sat alongside Paul on the agent's "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman. Myers made the case directly for Philadelphia to land James.

"If (LeBron) was here, I'd say, 'I honestly believe this is your best chance to win,'" said Myers.

The appearance drew attention across league circles because such pitches are typically made privately.

"Awkward," said one executive of a potential James suitor, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss Paul's show freely.

Another league source offered a different view of the strategy.

"The podcast is a brilliant idea by them because it regains a narrative for them they may have lost," said the source, who also spoke anonymously.

Sources ruled out speculation that Paul is staging a rotating series of executive appearances leading to a final announcement. Brandon Weems, a Cleveland Cavaliers front office staffer and childhood friend of James, remains the only known team executive with direct contact with James this offseason.

Teams cited by Paul as contenders, including the Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, said they remained without information on James' plans as of Thursday.

"We really don't know, we just know what we read," said one executive of a potential suitor.

James can no longer pursue a sign-and-trade after the Los Angeles Lakers renounced his rights. His next contract will be limited to the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, the taxpayer midlevel exception or the veteran's minimum.