As Paul George’s massive contract and injury history complicate his future in Philadelphia, three suitors could emerge as potential partners for a strategic salary-clearing deal.
The Philadelphia 76ers may want to explore the Paul George trade market this offseason, but they should not expect a clean escape.
George can still play. He averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this season, and when healthy, he remains a skilled wing who can shoot, defend in spots, and create his own offense.
George is entering his age-36 season, is set to make more than $54 million in 2026-27, and has a player option worth more than $56 million after that. He also missed significant time due to knee issues, including a delayed season debut after left knee surgery. That combination of age, salary, and injury risk means Philadelphia probably would not get a major return.
If the Sixers move him, the trade would likely be more about getting his money off the books. Here are three teams that could make some sense:
Miami Heat
Miami is the cleanest conceptual fit because the Heat are almost always willing to take swings on established talent. George would give them another big wing next to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and his ability to shoot, handle, and defend would fit the Heat’s preference for veterans with playoff experience.
A possible structure could involve Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and Dru Smith, with matching salaries. Wiggins would give Philadelphia a more flexible forward on a shorter financial timeline, Mitchell would provide a competent backup guard, and Smith could be a low-cost depth piece.
Miami would likely hesitate before attaching significant draft capital, though. George’s contract is too large for the Heat to treat him like a premium star acquisition. If Philadelphia received a second-round pick or light draft compensation, then they should count themselves lucky.
For the Sixers, this kind of deal would not be exciting, but it would make some sense if the goal is to get off George’s long-term money while adding usable rotation pieces.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit is another potential candidate, as they need more offense. That much became clear in the playoffs, when Cade Cunningham had to carry too much of the shot creation burden. George would help with that in theory. He could give the Pistons a veteran wing scorer, and take pressure off Cunningham.
The issue is whether Detroit should want him.
The Pistons are still building around Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, and their younger core. Taking on George’s contract would be a massive commitment for a team that should be careful about rushing its timeline.
A possible package could include Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Stewart, and Caris LeVert. Robinson would give the Sixers shooting, Stewart would add frontcourt physicality, and LeVert could provide secondary scoring. Detroit could also attach a second-round pick or protected draft asset if needed, but giving up a strong first-round pick for George would be hard to justify.
This trade would make more sense for Philadelphia than Detroit. The Sixers would turn one giant contract into multiple useful pieces. The Pistons, however, would be betting that George can still raise their ceiling enough to justify the risk.
Golden State Warriors
Finally, Golden State is the most interesting long-shot destination because of its timeline. Stephen Curry is still the center of everything, and the Warriors have shown a willingness to chase veteran help if they believe it can extend their championship window.
A deal could require Draymond Green if he opts into his contract, along with a younger player such as Moses Moody or Brandin Podziemski, and additional salary. That would be complicated for both sides. Green means a lot to Golden State, and Philadelphia may not want to take back another aging veteran unless there are younger pieces attached.
The goal for Philadelphia should be simple: do not chase a grand return. If George is moved, the win would be getting off the money, adding usable depth, and creating a cleaner path around Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and whatever direction the franchise chooses next, which is far more important than chasing a huge return.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
