The Philadelphia 76ers will enter the upcoming 2025-26 season in a few months as one of the bolder, yet more sensible picks to come out strong in the Eastern Conference. However, it seems like one particular team is determined to just screw up the race.
In one of the most bizarre trades in recent memory, the Chicago Bulls — led by actual credible individuals presumed to have ample basketball knowledge — just traded Lonzo Ball straight-up for (drum roll please) Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro.
Yes, you read that right. It was a straightforward, one-on-one swap with the Bulls doing everything in their power to avoid getting more. To make matters worse, the 76ers come out of this trade — in which they have no participation whatsoever — as collateral victims of some sort.
Just like that, the Bulls just aided the enemy and screwed the 76ers up.
76ers suddenly hit a brick wall as the rich gets richer thanks to all-time blunder by the Bulls
Given the unfortunate injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton — two of the biggest superstars in the East — which are expected to keep them out of commission for the entire season, as well as the inherent inferiority of the conference against the West depth-wise, the 76ers seemed poised to mount a rather historic comeback in the next campaign.
After all, Philadelphia still profiles as one of the most talented teams in the league, and it is simply unlikely that the injury bug will inflict them as hard as it did during the recently concluded season. Factor in as well the fact that the East is now wide-open. Clearly, the 76ers have no excuse to not make a deep run next season.
What this trade does, however, is give Cleveland, last season’s top-seeded Eastern Conference team, some more separation from the field. The Cavaliers needed a better playmaker off the bench, and having Ball in town will only make them even more lethal not only offensively, but also defensively.
The Cavs did not even flinch from this trade. Okoro was a marginal, one-dimensional bench cog who looked terrible in the playoffs, yet the Bulls could not be bothered to even demand a just asking price so as to sap some talent from Cleveland. They did not even acquire a second-round pick in return, which is pure abomination.
The Philadelphia 76ers look to be on the hunt next season. But the odd part is, even if the East appears to be wide-open, there are still ball clubs that love getting finessed, much to the detriment of those taking the race seriously.