The Philadelphia 76ers saw one of their poorest performances in recent history last season. In a campaign riddled with injuries and unseemly outings, the 76ers’ “process” is well overdue for some adjustments.
While the development of Tyrese Maxey, along with the revelation of Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes, has been a promising sight, the team will be forced to make some big changes in the offseason.
Currently, a key pain point for the team is Paul George‘s contract. Last season, the 35-year-old only played in 41 games. His averages of 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists certainly don’t inspire enough confidence.
Pairing this with his $51.6 million cap hit next season, and three years left on his contract, the 76ers will certainly hope to structure a trade deal involving the forward.
With several decisions to be made, Philadelphia will need to reshape its roster if it hopes to remain competitive moving forward. To facilitate this, we present a trade idea that allows the 76ers to be a formidable team while also helping them to clear cap space next summer.
In an attempt to move George’s contract, we take a look at a deal with the Utah Jazz.
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: John Collins, Collin Sexton
Utah Jazz Receive: Paul George, 2028 second-round pick (LAC), 2030 second-round pick (WAS)
Although the deal sees the 76ers give up picks instead of receiving them in return for a former All-Star, this is merely to sweeten the deal in an effort to offload George’s contract.
With some major moves being made, we take a look at how the deal impacts each team involved.
The Jazz Receive A Bona Fide Superstar
The Utah Jazz, much like the 76ers, had a very poor 2024-25 campaign. After finishing the season dead last in the West, the Jazz are in a terrible position when it comes to structuring their rebuild.
Although Utah features some talented players, such as Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, both of whom are linked to the Lakers this offseason, the Jazz need someone to bind the team together. A player like George could be the key to this.
At 35 years old, George is a star whose prime appears to be behind him. But by placing him in an environment where he isn’t expected to bring a title, or even secure a top spot in the league, the forward could effectively see a resurgence in performance.
Much of the criticism associated with George has been his inability to perform in clutch situations. With a significant amount of pressure taken off of him, the 9x All-Star could certainly shine in Utah, while also aiding the development of young players such as Keyonte George in the process.
Should Kessler and Markkanen remain with the team next season, the frontcourt pairing of the two with George could be formidable. With health concerns not being an issue, the trio, along with George and Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt, could prove to be quite a solid team in the West.
The 76ers Receive An Instant Boost
The 76ers will be looking for capable players who can bolster their rotation for the entirety of the season. With players such as McCain and Maxey facing injuries, the guard rotation is one that certainly needs insurance. With this in mind, the addition of Collin Sexton makes the matter a bit simpler.
Sexton is a capable two-way guard known for his energy and hustle on the court. After a season of averaging 18.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, Sexton has shown that he is capable of performing in any role he is placed in.
On the 76ers, Sexton would draw the role of being the backup point guard. This is vital since he would also be the primary on-ball defender for the secondary unit. His unique tenacity makes him a solid addition in this regard, and although his durability is suspect, he is great insurance for Philadelphia’s star guards.
Meanwhile, the addition of John Collins simply fortifies the 76ers’ frontcourt. The forward had a solid season of averaging 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds a game for the Jazz. His offensive versatility and athleticism make him a great addition for any team.
Considering the lack of size on Philadelphia’s roster, Collins could be a key addition to the team. While also considering the strained relationship between the 76ers’ organization and their star Joel Embiid, Collins could prove to be necessary insurance for them.
The most important aspect of this trade, however, is the fact that both Sexton and Collins will be free agents next summer. With almost $45 million coming off the books, Philadelphia will have a lot of cap space available to make some big acquisitions.
The Trade Benefits All
This trade proposal comes with a lot of flexibility for both teams. For the Jazz, the addition of George effectively gives them a chance to remain competitive by pairing him with some of their young stars. The addition of second-rounders in the trade only adds to their pre-existing abundance of draft capital.
Meanwhile, the 76ers acquire great expiring contracts. The pair of Sexton and Collins is still capable of being high-value contributors, and a season with a contract on the line could potentially bring the best out of them.
With the No. 3 pick still in hand, Philadelphia can still make some moves. But if they choose to build for the future, their decision in the draft could define everything that lines up for them moving forward.
