The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves paralyzed financially, preventing the front office from taking matters into their own hands and making drastic changes to the roster, which clearly needs it. But as everybody knows, the franchise brought this on themselves thanks to their short-sighted decisions in recent years.
And in their pool of questionable choices, perhaps nothing stands out more than their decision to sign Paul George to a maximum contract last year. Back then, it seemed like the exact move that would propel them to actual contention, but it has all been thorns and whatnot since then. The nine-time All-Star took a nosedive last season with some of his worst numbers in his career, casting a huge cloud on his ability to be a viable game-changer on a title aspirant.
Hence, getting rid of his contract would be a massive relief for the team. But of course, that is wildly easier said than done. Is there really a team out there who will have a hankering for an aging star on a bloated deal who is coming off possibly his worst year as a pro since his rookie year and is not exactly known for being durable?
Well, if the stars align perfectly, the 76ers might just be able to find a taker for George, especially with this recent concurrent development concerning a possible trade partner.
The 76ers should try to trade Paul George for Andrew Wiggins
Trade rumors involving Andrew Wiggins have been heating up once again, signaling that the Heat could also be cozying up to the idea of parting with him after just half a season playing for the franchise.
While the 76ers have not been linked to Wiggins, the front office should at least entertain the idea of swapping George for the former No. 1 overall pick. It will take some financial gymnastics for both teams to get the money to work, but that is worth ample consideration for Philly.
Wiggins has also declined since being arguably the second-best player on a championship team not too long ago, but he only comes at the fraction of the price of George. Even better, he is probably a better defender than the nine-time All-Star at this juncture, although his offense has become erratic at times.
Still, as long as the 76ers will be able to shed George’s imposing financial imprint on the payroll, that would be an instant win. There is also the fact that the Heat, presumably desperate for star power, are one of the few teams Daryl Morey can seduce into such a haphazard swap.