Proposed Paul George Trade Would Give Philadelphia 76ers a Clear Direction

The Philadelphia 76ers do not need to be the team that lands Giannis Antetokounmpo for a trade surrounding him to matter to them.

That is what makes the PhillyVoice trade framework from Adam Aaronson interesting. The idea was not for Philadelphia to acquire the Milwaukee Bucks superstar. Instead, the Sixers would act as a third team in a larger deal, sending out Paul George and draft compensation while receiving Andrew Wiggins and Bobby Portis.

From a pure star-power standpoint, this sounds uninteresting. George is still the biggest name Philadelphia would be moving, and Wiggins and Portis are not star players. However, the deal isn't about upgrading from George. 

It is about getting off money, adding usable depth, and creating a roster that is easier to build around.

That is why the idea is not bad from a logistics standpoint. George’s contract is one of Philadelphia’s biggest roster-building obstacles. He is entering his age-36 season, has dealt with injuries, and still has massive money attached to his deal. Even if he can still help a team, the Sixers have to ask whether paying George like a star makes sense if they are also trying to build around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.

In this deal, Philadelphia would turn one huge contract into two more manageable rotation pieces. Wiggins would give the Sixers a bigger wing who can defend, run the floor, and provide secondary scoring. He is not the same player who helped Golden State win a championship in 2022, but he is still a useful forward when placed in the right role. Philadelphia has needed more athletic wing options for years, and Wiggins would at least give them a player who can fit into different lineups. 

Portis would solve a different issue. He gives the Sixers frontcourt scoring, rebounding, and floor spacing. He is not a perfect defensive answer, but he has been productive for Milwaukee for years and can play either as a backup big or as a frontcourt partner in certain lineups. For a team that has often struggled to find reliable depth behind Embiid, Portis would be a real regular-season contributor.

From Milwaukee’s side, the framework is understandable. If the Bucks trade Giannis, they need a return that gives them young talent, picks, and enough veteran salary to remain functional. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., the No. 13 pick, the No. 22 pick, and future Miami draft control would give them several different avenues. Herro is already a proven scorer. Ware is a young big with real upside. Jaquez gives them another young rotation player. The Heat picks and swaps could become valuable down the line, especially if Miami eventually ages out of contention.

The only question is whether it is enough.

Giannis is still one of the five best players in basketball. Players like that rarely become available, and when they do, the selling team usually wants everything it can get. Even if Milwaukee likes Herro, Ware, Jaquez, and the draft capital, it could decide that another team can offer a more certified star prospect, more picks, or a less complicated salary structure.

This is where things could become complicated. George would not be the centerpiece of Milwaukee’s return. He would be there mostly for salary purposes and to give the Bucks a veteran who can still play. That may be acceptable if the rest of the package is strong enough, but Milwaukee could understandably push for more.

For the Sixers, though, the appeal is clear.

This would not be a move designed to make big headlines. It would be a move designed to make the roster make more sense. Philadelphia would lose some high-end scoring upside with George, but it would gain two useful players and get George's money off of their books. Wiggins and Portis are not perfect, but they could help fill rotational holes.

The Sixers have spent years chasing star power. At some point, they need to build a team that is deeper, more flexible, and less dependent on everything going right.

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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].