The Philadelphia 76ers are currently thriving to start the 2025-26 regular season. They have managed to rack up four straight wins as their win-loss card remains unblemished despite not yet having the likes of Paul George and Jared McCain, sending a strong statement to their naysayers that what happened last season will not be normalized.
McCain is set to return soon, and while there has been no tangible updates yet, George is likely to follow suit. The 76ers have recently seen everyone be a full participant in practice, meaning that the nine-time All-Star will be back sooner than later. However, is there really still room for his services given the team’s newfound identity?
There is no other way to find out the answer to that question until he is given the opportunity to play within and blend into the squad’s novel dynamic, one that now revolves around the production of what is easily one of, if not the best, backcourt in the entire league. Still, it is worth noting that George’s role on offense will most likely dwindle.
The 76ers could engage the Heat on a possible Paul George trade
If so, the 76ers should actively seek out opportunities to trade him, although that is where precisely the problem lies. It is extremely difficult to fathom a team showing non-passive interest in trading for George given the kind of year he had and the kind of contract he is under.
Fortunately for the 76ers, there could be a little window for them to dump George’s mammoth deal thanks to the Miami Heat. The latter is still actively trying to win as many games as possible despite the limited ceiling of their core, so getting a chance to welcome a bona fide star in George, who is not far removed from his last All-Star appearance, will fall squarely into what they are going after.
The Heat have contracts they can use to match George’s salary, such as that of Andrew Wiggins’ and Terry Rozier’s, although convincing the 76ers to willingly absorb those deals could likewise be tricky.
Having said that, Rozier — who is currently the subject of a widescale investigation off the court — is on an expiring deal while Wiggins is still a quality role player on a reasonable contract.
Heck, so long as the 76ers get some freedom from Paul George, any trade that will allow that to happen should be more than palatable if we’re being candid.