Sixers Considered Unlikely To Trade Paul George

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Philadelphia 76ers are unlikely to consider trading Paul George this offseason unless he were to request a trade. George has three seasons remaining on his four-year, $212 million deal and trading him after a disappointing initial season with the Sixers would be selling him low.

The Sixers realize their chances of competing are tied more to the health of Joel Embiid than the play of George. George appeared in 41 games with the Sixers where he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.5 minutes. George's PER dropped from 19.3 in his final season with the LA Clippers to 14.4 with the Sixers.

If Embiid were unable to demonstrate he is capable of staying on the floor, the Sixers could readdress the situation starting on December 15 when trade season unofficially begins.

Last offseason, the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets were amongst the teams who pursued a trade for George. The Clippers, however, preferred their path of letting him sign outright in free agency and reinforcing their roster via newfound cap flexibility. 

Via Jake Fischer/The Stein Line

[Jason_Todd]

Lol. Cause nobody wants him.

[HotelVitale]

Lol. Cause nobody wants him.

Maybe but either way Sixers don’t care. Plan A is to hope Embiid is healthy, and if that’s the case they need PG more than anyone. Plan B is Embiid isn’t healthy and it becomes clear he won’t be in the future, which then means they’ll look to trade PG and build younger. But by that time he’ll only be a 2 year deal so should be easier to trade, and they won’t gain instant cap space or anything anyway.

[Pickled Prunes]

Lol. Cause nobody wants him.

Maybe but either way Sixers don’t care. Plan A is to hope Embiid is healthy, and if that’s the case they need PG more than anyone. Plan B is Embiid isn’t healthy and it becomes clear he won’t be in the future, which then means they’ll look to trade PG and build younger. But by that time he’ll only be a 2 year deal so should be easier to trade, and they won’t gain instant cap space or anything anyway.

He's tradeable, but do you believe PHI could get positive assets for him?
How about Michael Porter Jr and Zeke Nnaji for PG13 and the #3?

[Thechicagorilla]

Trade pg and the pick for kd

[HotelVitale]

Lol. Cause nobody wants him.

Maybe but either way Sixers don’t care. Plan A is to hope Embiid is healthy, and if that’s the case they need PG more than anyone. Plan B is Embiid isn’t healthy and it becomes clear he won’t be in the future, which then means they’ll look to trade PG and build younger. But by that time he’ll only be a 2 year deal so should be easier to trade, and they won’t gain instant cap space or anything anyway.

He's tradeable, but do you believe PHI could get positive assets for him?
How about Michael Porter Jr and Zeke Nnaji for PG13 and the #3?

That seems like worst of both worlds. They don’t get a young rebuilding player and they’re still kid if Embiid isn’t healthy. Far preferable to make the pick and hedge against Embiid being injured, while keeping PG around in case he is healthy.

[MitchB3]

Doesn't he also have a NTC?

[Skipwhethers]

This is great spin from the Sixers' PR department. Philadelphia being unwilling to trade PG is like Kanye saying he is unwilling to trade his mental illness.

[Pickled Prunes]

Maybe but either way Sixers don’t care. Plan A is to hope Embiid is healthy, and if that’s the case they need PG more than anyone. Plan B is Embiid isn’t healthy and it becomes clear he won’t be in the future, which then means they’ll look to trade PG and build younger. But by that time he’ll only be a 2 year deal so should be easier to trade, and they won’t gain instant cap space or anything anyway.

He's tradeable, but do you believe PHI could get positive assets for him?
How about Michael Porter Jr and Zeke Nnaji for PG13 and the #3?

That seems like worst of both worlds. They don’t get a young rebuilding player and they’re still kid if Embiid isn’t healthy. Far preferable to make the pick and hedge against Embiid being injured, while keeping PG around in case he is healthy.

I agree, I just don't really see PG as a positive asset on the trade market. That's why I asked what you thought a reasonable return for PG would look like. If PHI want's to win, a healthy PG is far better than any player you could get back in a trade for him. And if PHI decides to rebuild, the only way to get draft capital for him is to take on worst contracts in a deal. That's hard to envision.

The best thing PHI can do to help PG is to bring in a starting PF so PG can play his natural position.