The Philadelphia 76ers may have had an awful season, but it’s never too late to get things back on track. This offseason will be a golden opportunity for the Sixers, and while that starts with the draft, another way for them to improve is to look at potentially available stars.
The offseason just started for almost half the NBA. While some moves around the NBA have already been made, more rumors will start to emerge in the coming weeks. In the Sixers’ case, they could approach the Utah Jazz for a potential upgrade, as FanSided’s Nicholas Kyle Spring explained why Lauri Markkanen should be a target.
“The All-Star forward is undoubtedly a malleable weapon offensively, capable of creating his own shot while also profiling as a high-volume, spot-up threat. He can play all three frontcourt positions, and given the right personnel, can also more than hold his own on defense,” Spring wrote. “While it is a bit of a reach at the moment, the Philadelphia 76ers are an easy fit for Lauri Markkanen.”
The Jazz made it clear this season that they want to get younger, which could lead to them trading Markkanen, who will be 28 in May. The conundrum is that the Sixers would likely offer Paul George and his contract, just for salary-matching purposes, to start. It would likely take more to complete a trade.
If the Sixers manage to keep their pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which is not a given due to the Al Horford trade, but if that pick is the No. 5 or No. 6 pick, that, along with George, could be enticing to Utah for their rebuild.
The Sixers may look to trade George this offseason, but it might be hard to find a taker and/or find a player who is better for them. Markkanen might be the best the team can hope for.
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