As if the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans for the 2025 NBA Draft weren’t controversial enough, ESPN came out with a report today that raised many eyebrows. Throughout the past week, fans have passionately debated who Philadelphia should select with the third overall pick. It has largely come down to Ace Bailey or V.J. Edgecombe, but both of those talented prospects could be out of the 76ers’ reach if this latest report comes to fruition.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo published a mock draft in which they had Philadelphia selecting Bailey. However, that wasn’t the idea that caused heads to turn; rather, it was the gem that was dropped towards the end of the 76ers’ section of the article:
“Some teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations, with names such as Kevin Durant (Phoenix) and Lauri Markkanen (Utah) as potential targets in packages that could include Paul George and the No. 3 pick. Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has made a career of being active and aggressive on the trade front. Still, historically, it's rare to see a top-three pick being traded.”
If Philadelphia completes either of these blockbuster trades, it means that its management fully believes in its chances of winning a championship with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for the next few seasons. Otherwise, the 76ers would likely deem the third overall pick off-limits, which could still be the case since this report was based on what teams around the league think. Still, let’s take a glance at both of these options.
KD to Philly?
Philadelphia fans have wanted to pair up Embiid and Maxey with Durant for the past few years, especially amidst his fallout with the Brooklyn Nets throughout the 2021-22 season. While Durant still offers all-star caliber production and is a top 15 to 12 player, he’s also turning 37 years old next season. Durant’s longevity has been stellar up to this point, even after suffering a torn Achilles during the Golden State Warriors’ 2019 postseason run. Regardless, one has to wonder how many elite years he has left as father time is unfortunately inevitable.
No matter how you spin it, Durant would be an upgrade over George as he posted 26.6 points per game on 64.2% true-shooting in 62 games with the Suns this season. Needless to say, Durant is still among the best three-level scorers in the NBA, and he’s entering the last term of his four-year/$194.2 million contract next season, then he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. Philadelphia could start fresh once more, but another negative aspect of this idea is that Phoenix’s draft capital is underwhelming, and Philadelphia would lose its lottery pick.
What about Lauri?
However, that’s the exact reason why a trade involving Lauri Markkanen and the fifth overall pick could be more intriguing for some. It’s no secret that Utah tanked this season, and its effort didn’t pay off as it shockingly landed outside of the top four draft range. The Jazz are likely desperate to trade up, and after years of stubbornness, may be ready to depart with Markkanen to do so. While it’s a downgrade, the 76ers would still possess a series of intriguing options with the fifth overall pick, especially since Kon Knueppel would still likely be available.
While Markkanen is eight years younger than George, he’s also entering a four-year/$195.9 contract next season as his annual cap hit will ascend each year. He’s also coming off an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign where he notched 19.9 points per game on 34.6% shooting from beyond the arc in 47 appearances for Utah. Still, Markkanen would improve Philadelphia’s spacing and front-court size. But, if I were Eastern Conference contenders, I wouldn’t fear an Embiid-Maxey-Markkanen tandem any more than I would their current roster.
My verdict
At the end of the day, it would be in the 76ers’ best interest to sit tight with the third overall pick secured and wait to see if more intriguing options become available. With Embiid’s return to grace very much in question, it would be unwise for Philadelphia to squander an opportunity to significantly build up its emerging young core for a win-now move that likely wouldn’t pay off. As evident by the past few years, big threes in the NBA are becoming a dated concept, and it’s more about building a versatile supporting cast and avoiding the second tax apron.