Joel Embiid, Paul George Duo Reportedly Won't Be Broken Up by 76ers amid Trade Rumors
The Philadelphia 76ers will continue to forge ahead with the tandem of Joel Embiid and Paul George, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
Fischer reported it's "a misread" to think George might be shopped around.
"There have been no indications that they are looking to package George with the No. 3 pick or try to move him on his own," he wrote. "The Sixers surely understand that there is little-to-no chance they could optimize a trade return for the 35-year-old after his injury-riddled maiden season as a Sixer ... especially with three seasons remaining on George's max deal."
Fischer added there's a long-held belief around the league the Sixers won't trade George so soon after signing him unless he presses the issue first.
Even if Philly wanted to be pragmatic and quietly gauge George's trade value, Fischer alluded to the fact that there probably isn't a package that would make the move worth it.
George's first season with the franchise was pretty much a disaster. Injuries limited him to 41 games, and his performance was below his usual standards when he did play. He averaged 16.2 points on 43 percent shooting, including 35.8 percent from three-point range.
There's no scenario in which Embiid is sidelined for 62 games and the 76ers are still title contenders. George's drop in production did raise some concerns about whether he and Embiid are a title-winning formula when they're both available.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft would be an attractive sweetener to entice another team to take on the three remaining years and $162.4 million left on George's contract.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Monday that "some teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations," with their first-rounder a way to land a marquee star. However, the draft expert went on to write that "adding a young, talented prospect could be appealing as a reset to the team's timeline."
Maybe Philadelphia is irreparably flawed as currently constructed. Trading George risks also limiting how the front office can pick up the pieces and rebuild in a few years.
