76ers May Want To Think Twice About Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Philadelphia 76ers should always listen when a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available.

He is still one of the NBA’s most dominant forces, a two-time MVP, a champion, and the type of star who can change a franchise’s ceiling overnight. But listening is different from overreacting.

If acquiring Antetokounmpo means trading V.J. Edgecombe, Philadelphia should be extremely careful.

The biggest issue is control. Antetokounmpo is under contract through 2026-27, but his 2027-28 season is a player option. That means any team trading for him would have to understand the risk: if things go wrong, Antetokounmpo could eventually control his own exit. Giving up a top young player for such a small window is a huge risk. 

The basketball fit is also questionable. Antetokounmpo is at his best with the ball in his hands, attacking downhill, collapsing defenses, and creating pressure at the rim. He is not a natural off-ball spacer or screener, and pairing him with Embiid would create questions about driving lanes, late-game spacing, and offensive rhythm.

That does not mean great players cannot figure things out. But Philadelphia has already spent years trying to force star-heavy constructions around Embiid. At some point, the Sixers need to stop chasing the biggest name and start asking whether the pieces actually fit.

That is where Edgecombe matters. As a rookie, he already showed why Philadelphia should be excited about his future. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 75 games while shooting 35.4 percent from three, and he finished as a Rookie of the Year finalist. He also had a historic NBA debut, scoring 34 points in a win over Boston, the highest-scoring Sixers debut ever and the most by any rookie in a debut since Wilt Chamberlain.  

He is young, athletic, improving, and already productive. Next to Tyrese Maxey, he gives Philadelphia a path toward a faster, more modern roster built on speed, pressure, and transition offense. 

The Sixers have tried shortcuts before. They have chased big names, reshuffled supporting casts, and sacrificed flexibility for star power. The best version of their future may require more patience. Build around Maxey and Edgecombe, develop their chemistry, add depth, and let the roster grow organically.

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