The 2024-25 season was one Philadelphia 76ers fans would rather to forget.
The team entered the year with championship aspirations, bolstered by their new big three: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, who signed with the 76ers in the offseason. However, things quickly unraveled; injuries ravaged the team, derailing those hopes, and they finished with a record of 24-58.
During a recent episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons floated the idea of a possible trade that would send Paul George and the No. 3 overall pick to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
“I don’t even know if that makes sense for Philly, but I just wonder if Philly is looking at trades like that with the third pick,” Simmons said.
Zach Lowe quickly shut it down, “I hate that trade for everyone involved,” he stated.
“Now, if you tell me I’m the Jazz and I can reroute Paul George somewhere else for something less damaging to my cap sheet for the next three years and I get the number three pick, then it starts to be somewhat interesting to me,” Lowe said. “But Markkanen is pretty good, and the Paul George contract is not so good, although I think it will get rehabbed this year. I think we’ll think differently of Paul George in about six months.”
Although the 76ers have reportedly expressed their interest in retaining George, the trade idea remains intriguing. Simmons’s proposal involves the 76ers acquiring a proven All-Star in Lauri Markkanen to pair with Embiid and Maxey.
Meanwhile, the Jazz shoots up the draft board by getting into the top five while taking on Paul George’s hefty contract.
The Jazz recently hired Austin Ainge as president of Basketball Operations, ushering in a new era. George fits on a team, specifically a Jazz team that is rebuilding, which is questionable; at 35 years old, he is looking to play for a contender rather than a team looking to build up its young core., However, the appeal of acquiring a top-three pick might outweigh the concerns.
More NBA:Korean TV broadcast delivers all-time call for Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 1 game-winner in NBA Finals
