The Golden State Warriors could be a potential trade suitor for Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George.
With a new President of Basketball Operations in place, the Philadelphia 76ers need to pick a direction for their future.
Either go all-in on competing with veteran stars Joel Embiid and Paul George under contract, or lean into the youth movement led by Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe. If the 76ers decide on the latter option, trading George this offseason becomes a serious possibility.
One potential destination for the 36-year-old is the Golden State Warriors.
A trade proposal could look as follows:
76ers receive: Jimmy Butler, No. 11 pick in 2026 NBA Draft
Warriors receive: Paul George, Johni Broome
Butler is expected to miss a significant portion of next season, as he is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in February. He is also entering the final campaign of his two-year, $110 million contract, meaning it's entirely possible he never even suits up for Philadelphia in this scenario. It's also worth noting Butler previously played for the Sixers and could be unwilling to play for them again after they signed Tobias Harris to an extension instead of him.
So, why do the Sixers then agree to this trade? Two reasons.
Firstly, the No. 11 pick is incredibly valuable in this draft. The 2026 class is praised as one of the deepest in recent memory, so the 76ers could land a star just outside the top 10. Not to mention, Philadelphia also holds the No. 22 pick.
The secondary motivation of why the 76ers would potentially accept this deal is to rid the roster of George's ugly contract. Unlike Butler, the nine-time All-Star still has a possible two years remaining on his $211 million contract.
The Warriors' reasoning for taking on George is much more obvious. They are determined to compete for another championship with Stephen Curry at the helm, but with Butler likely sidelined for the majority of next season, it feels unlikely they'll be in title conversations next year. Trading for George allows them to be in those conversations once again.
Can a core of Curry and George take down the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs? Probably not, but it brings them closer to competing than having Butler on the bench does.
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