The Philadelphia 76ers are struggling as of late, but they still have a winning record despite those underwhelming performances only worsened by the litany of injuries they have already encountered. Still, this franchise is aiming much higher than a middling finish not only this season, but also moving forward.
However, for as long as they are the ones paying Paul George, roster-building will be a very difficult escapade for the front office. Financial flexibility is something completely missing with them at the moment, and really, their only way out of his mammoth deal is to find a potential trade partner and incentivize that team to take on the All-Star’s deal, which subsists for two more seasons after the current one.
As repeatedly mentioned before, Lauri Markkanen is essentially the perfect player the 76ers can trade for involving George. Naturally, that would entail them having to pay a very heavy price, but with such a win-now disposition and a good amount of young talent anyway, parting with draft picks to get the All-Star does not sound like a grim proposition.
Unfortunately, that seems to be headed to a state of impossiblity.
The 76ers no longer have their only ideal way to get out of the Paul George contract
As NBA insider Marc Stein noted (subscription required), the Jazz are more likely to hold onto Markkanen and try to get pieces around him to build their roster. If true, that would effectively foreclose any and all chances of their front office trading him actively to acquire assets oriented toward building through a draft-heavy approach.
While that remains a market whisper, that position is on all fours with the Utah’s brass has signaled in recent years. And with Markkanen returning to his All-Star form this season, one can only expect their grip on him to get even stronger.
The 76ers were never really solidly penciled in as one of the teams looking to move the needle for Markkanen, but they were definitely one of the only ball clubs with the plausible assets to make both the money and reasoning work. Philly has some attractive draft assets of their own and some young players that could pique the Jazz’ interest, alongside George, of course.
But now, with Utah not inclined at all to part ways with Lauri Markkanen, those hoping for the 76ers to move past Paul George can bid adieu to that moot prayer. It is as good as over, basically.