At first glance, it may be too early for the Philadelphia 76ers to make any drastic trades because of how young the season still is.
The problem is they're already running out of time if they hope even to enter the playoff picture. The Sixers are without question among the worst teams in the NBA, and they must ask themselves at what point they should regroup.
They have disastrously low odds to make the postseason, and they owe the Oklahoma City Thunder a top-six protected first-round pick when the season ends. If they wave the white flag, they must also consider who should stay and who should go.
Even if it’s only been a month, one player that comes to mind as one to sell already is Paul George. He does not look like the player they paid over $200 million for, and more unfortunately, he’s hurt yet again.
If George looks this bad now, it’s easier to believe it will worsen with time. If the opportunity presents itself, the Sixers may think their most necessary move is getting rid of the nine-time All-Star.
One team that would make sense as a George destination is the Golden State Warriors. George confirmed on his podcast that the two sides had mutual interest and that a trade was close but never agreed to.
If the Sixers decide they’re done with George and the Warriors still have interest, the following deal could work between the two sides.
Warriors get: George
Sixers get: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, De’Anthony Melton
The Sixers’ priority in this scenario is getting George’s max contract off their payroll above all else. Wiggins is paid much less, has one less year on his contract, and looks more like himself. Kuminga is a young wing that could be worth investing in long-term. Melton’s contract comes off the books in 2025.
But would the Warriors say yes to this?
The Warriors are back with a vengeance this season but are not the obvious favorites they once were. At this stage, with Stephen Curry, they can’t afford to leave things to chance with their younger players.
On paper, George raises their ceiling even if he would be expensive. It’s up in the air whether he’s better than Wiggins, but for how awkward his fit has been with the Sixers, there’s a slight chance George fits much better with the Warriors.
For Golden State, trading for George is swinging for the fences on a tough pitch. This is not a great trade for the Sixers, but it might be the best they could hope for.
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