NBA

NBA Rumors: 76ers Could Trade 3rd Overall Pick & Paul George

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Anthony Cardenas
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Anthony Cardenas Sports Editor

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Published19 May 2025

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The Philadelphia 76ers were given a stroke of good luck last week during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. After entering the process with the 5th-best odds on the board, they wound up jumping two spots, and were awarded the third overall pick in a draft that is projected to have future stars at the head of it’s class.

NBA Teams Expect 76ers To Shop 3rd Overall Pick, Paul George

According to a report by ESPN’s NBA Draft insider Jonathan Givony, Philadelphia could be looking to shop their new valuable asset, and could package it together with Paul George.

The 76ers were one of the more disappointing teams in the NBA during the 2024-25 season. Widely projected to be a contender in the Eastern Conference, they instead finished with the 5th-fewest wins of any team in the entire league, posting a 24-58 record amidst both injuries and issues with poor performance.

It was last offseason’s arrival of Paul George that was supposed to help put Philadelphia over the top. Less than a year later, they may be looking to move him after a disastrous regular season showing.

In his first mock draft after the reveal of the lottery results, Givony lays down some details when it comes to what the 76ers might be planning. He projects that Philadelphia will select Rutgers wing Ace Bailey, but doesn’t rule out the team shopping the pick as a part of a package. Teams around the NBA expect the 76ers to be active in trade conversations, Givony says, and Kevin Durant and Lauri Markkanen could be targets in packages that could include Paul George.

It all depends on if the team is looking to reset their timeline with a new, young prospect, or if they want to add to their current core of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

There will be plenty of teams lining up to make calls to Philadelphia’s front office when it comes to the number three pick. But finding a team to take on an aging George and his bloated contract could prove difficult. After nine straight seasons of averaging 20+ points per game, the then-34-year-old saw that number drop to 16.2 points in 2024-25, and he shot at his worst three-point clip since his rookie season.