The trade deadine is officially just a week away, but the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to move the needle themselves. Despite the loud and resounding gushes in the rumor mill, it seems like the market would remain a pretty silent one until the final day. If so, fans should be in for a climactic slate down to the last minute.
While they have indeed been inactive thus far, the 76ers have not shied away from the limelight, at least in the stream of endless rumors. Philly has somehow caught fire as of late, giving fans yet another tease (or glimmer of hope for the optimists) that could cudgel them into moving with more urgency on the transaction tables.
One “sweepstakes” the 76ers are rumored to have potentially stakes in is that involving Jimmy Butler, who has become the most controversial star in the league this season. He and his camp are doing everything in their power to provoke his ball club into trading him to his desired destination, but so far, both sides are stuck in a toxic exchange of histrionics and attendant suspensions.
The 76ers trade for Jimmy Butler in this ambitious trade proposal
Philadelphia, rumored to be interested as a facilitator in a multi-team trade framework, has not been actively included in the loop of Butler’s preferred landing spots. However, the 76ers do have a blueprint to steal him for themselves, as corroborated by this trade proposal.
In this two-team exchange pitched by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the 76ers would acquire Butler and veteran guard Alec Burks from the Heat for Paul George and a 2026 first-round pick, which would have a top-five protection.
George has quietly been on an upward trend since 2025 kicked off, but he has still admittedly been a huge disappointment thus far. The 76ers signed him to a max deal under the premise that his elite skill set would continue to age well, but as kismet would have it, his sharp decline has come this season.
Butler, whom Joel Embiid reportedly vouched for as a trade target for the franchise prior to signing George, would obviously provide a better conduit for the 76ers to make the playoffs and snag more flexibility moving forward. Much of his decline this season stems from his lack of desire to play for Miami, and a change of scenery, even one that leads him back to Philadelphia, could revitalize him. After all, he still has good reps with Embiid.
Having said that, it remains to be seen whether Miami could be enticed by George, but Pat Riley and his corps do plan on keeping on with their win-now edict. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers would almost certainly welcome the opportunity to welcome Jimmy Butler back and dangle George away for cap relief.