Paul George Trade Reportedly Generating Buzz, 76ers Could Eye Move Down in NBA Draft
The Philadelphia 76ers are in a prime position with the No. 3 pick in the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday, but they're reportedly open to shipping away one of their veteran players and moving down in the order.
During an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported that Sixers star forward Paul George is being floated as a potential trade candidate if Philadelphia looks to move down.
"I don’t know what Philadelphia is going to do here. Do they just sit on that draft pick and take it? Or do they try to package it? Is Paul George in play? I’ve heard some of that over the last 24 hours—that they could be looking to trade back with Paul George to do something there," Mannix said (h/t HoopsHype).
Trading George just one year after signing him to a four-year, $212 million contract would be a massive shift for the Sixers, but it wouldn't be without merit. The 35-year-old put forth his worst season in quite some time in his first year in Philadelphia, appearing in just 41 games and averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals. It was his first year averaging under 20 points since the 2014-15 season when he was limited to just six games after recovering from a devastating leg fracture.
The Sixers went just 24-58 this season and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. If George and fellow stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey can stay healthy, they should have a chance to compete with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
However, it sounds like George's status with the team isn't guaranteed for the 2025-26 season following this year's disappointing finish.
