Last season was a disaster for the Philadelphia 76ers, but they might have a clear path back to contention.
In the summer of 2024, the 76ers were crowned the kings of the offseason, mostly for their signing of Paul George after he had spent the past five seasons with the LA Clippers. However, things quickly turned for the 76ers as injuries piled up.
With George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each missing significant time, there was never a clear path for the 76ers to contend in 2025. Considering George’s big contract and his lackluster performance, Philadelphia might be wise to find a deal for him.
Another young star in Philadelphia?
As suggested by Bleacher Report, the 76ers’ best path to move George could be by attaching the 2028 first-round pick they acquired from the Clippers. In Grant Hughes’ trade proposal, the 76ers would do just that and add a star in the process.
76ers receive: Lauri Markkanen
Jazz receive: Paul George, 2028 first-round pick (via LAC)
Trading George for Markkanen straight-up would be an easy decision for the 76ers, and attaching a potentially valuable 2028 first that belongs to another team to make it happen shouldn’t be much more difficult. Meanwhile, the Jazz haven’t been willing to budge in Markkanen talks, but George could be a solid mentor for their young players while also adding a pick that could easily land in the top five.
While the 76ers’ problems ultimately won’t be solved if Embiid can’t stay on the floor, Markkanen certainly would give Philadelphia a much better shot at winning a title.
