NBA Trade Idea Sends 76ers Star Paul George to Rebuilding Eastern Conference Team

The Philadelphia 76ers have a new No. 1 and 2 in their front office.

Mike Gansey was appointed as the President of Basketball Operations a few weeks after Daryl Morey's firing while assistant general manager Jameer Nelson was promoted to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations on Sunday. 

The 2026 NBA Draft is likely to be the first major event for Gansey and Nelson unless a blockbuster trade takes place prior to then. It's entirely possible the 76ers decide to explore trades surrounding veteran star Paul George this offseason due to his ugly contract.

One trade idea, pitched by FanSided, would see Philadelphia send George to the Brooklyn Nets. The full proposed trade details are as follows:

76ers receive: Nicolas Claxton, Terance Mann, Noah Clowney

Nets receive: George, No. 22 pick in 2026 NBA Draft, 2028 first-round pick (via LAC), 2030 first-round pick swap

The 76ers, by agreeing to this trade, would break up George's contract into three much more manageable deals. Claxton has two seasons remaining on his $97 million contract, Mann has two campaigns left on his $47 million deal, and Clowney is entering the final year of his $15 million contract.

The issue is they'd be giving up significant draft capital to do so.

Parting ways with three first-round picks just to get rid of the last two years of George's $212 million deal would feel a bit aggressive by Philadelphia's front office.

The future of the 76ers is the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, who are age 25 and younger. The 76ers would be sacrificing a real chance to build around them in this scenario, which simply doesn't make this trade worth it for Philadelphia.

For the Nets, the logic is much easier to understand.

Brooklyn is a rebuilding team in the Eastern Conference, meaning it's no rush to contend. The Nets could simply wait out the remainder of George's contract while benefiting greatly from the draft capital.

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Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.