Jason Burgos
On Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2025-26 season came to a miserable end in a 30-point loss to end a four-game sweep by the New York Knicks in the semifinals of the NBA playoffs. Being so soundly defeated by their I-95 rivals sent a clear message that changes need to be made this summer.
While that could include moving on from head coach Nick Nurse, it would be in the organization’s best interest to move forward with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe as the faces of the franchise, and do all they can to move broken-down and expensive veterans Joel Embiid and/or Paul George. Both are a drag on the team’s payroll and their growth as a team. Especially Embiid and his sometimes toxic attitude.
However, moving either won’t be easy, and the 76ers will have to give up some valuable assets to break the financial chains connecting them to either player. But it will benefit the 76ers long-term. With that in mind, we offer up five trade ideas that send Embiid or George out of Philly this summer.
Trade Paul George & the 2027 first-rounder for Patrick Williams
George is owed just under $111 million over the next two seasons if he picks up his player option in 2027-28. Which he is sure to do. It is a ton of money for a player turning 36, and that has only played in 78 games over the last two years. Yet he is probably the more tradable of the two.
In any deal, the 76ers will need to take back bad contracts and will need to give up a future first-round pick in the NBA Draft. One idea would be to ship George to the Chicago Bulls for Patrick Williams. The forward has three years left on his deal, but for a total less than what George makes in a season.
For the Bulls, if healthy, George makes them a lot better, and for the Sixers, they free up a ton of cap space and get a solid depth piece for the bench.
Trade Paul George & the 22nd pick in June for Andrew Wiggins & Nikola Jovic
If Andrew Wiggins opts into the final year of his current contract with the Miami Heat — which he is expected to do — he could be another target in a Paul George trade. The 76ers could also get Nikola Jovic in the trade. But they will definitely have to give up their selection at 22 overall in next month’s draft. That is the only way Miami might consider the deal.
While Philly will lose their first-rounder this year, it would be worth it to get cap flexibility sooner. Plus, Wiggins could still be an impact player for them next season.
Trade Joel Embiid, 22nd pick in June, and their first-rounder in 2030 for Anthony Davis
The biggest Hail Mary of the summer would be the 76ers somehow separating themselves from Joel Embiid and the $186 million he stands to make over the next three seasons. To move him, they would need to take on another bad contract, which is why Anthony Davis could be an option.
Reports suggest he was not thrilled about being traded to the Washington Wizards and might welcome another trade this summer. Swapping one expensive injury-prone big for another makes sense. But because Embiid is the least healthy of the two and has more years on his deal, the 76ers may need to throw in their first-rounders in 2026 and 2030 to make a deal happen. But it would be worth it to get rid of that awful contract.
Trade Paul George for Jordan Poole & Herb Jones
Another direction the 76ers can go to move George is to get the New Orleans Pelicans on the phone and see about their interest in taking the future Hall of Famer in a deal for Jordan Poole and Herb Jones. The guard is way overpaid at $34 million next season, but it is the last year of his deal.
The Pelicans would certainly be a better team next season if George can stay healthy most of the year. For the 76ers, they get a good bench scorer for a year and a nice defensive rotation player in Jones.
Trade Paul George & 2029 for Zach LaVine
The Sacramento Kings have their own well-overpaid, injury-prone swingman in Zach LaVine. While he is only 31, the two-time All-Star has played in 50 or more games just once over the last three seasons. However, assuming he picks up his player option for next season, Philly would gladly take him for just a year.
There is risk in the deal for the Kings since George is older and has another year on his deal. So, throwing in a draft pick in 2029 should get the deal done.
