Get ready Sixers fans, there’s going to be a lot of leaks like this between now and next month’s draft.
As is quickly becoming the consensus thought around the league, the 2025 NBA draft starts with the Sixers pick at No. 3, with Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper seemingly pencilled in to the first two selections.
There has been some more reporting on the recent chatter that the Sixers could be looking to move off the pick or one of their three core stars in the coming weeks. So let’s take a look at the freshest rumors surrounding the squad.
The expectation to keep the pick with the core in-tact
Starting with Jake Fischer of Marc Stein’s Substack, he had some intel on the rumors that the Sixers could be shopping the third overall pick, Paul George, or both.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that the Sixers are expected to at least listen to trade-down opportunities ... but likewise stress that they are not expected to trade out of the pick entirely. Sources say Philadelphia greatly values the opportunity to add a young player to its core, which already features 24-year-old Tyrese Maxey and soon-to-be-second-year guard Jared McCain to complement the veteran duo of Joel Embiid and Paul George.”
This is pretty much the exact messaging the team directly has given since the conclusion of the season. From Daryl Morey on down, the Sixers say their focus is making their roster younger and more dynamic. Some of the local beats have reported the same thing as well. PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson has said that “the team has given ‘no consideration’” to trading the pick for a veteran star. PHLY’s Kyle Nuebeck also reported that a source threw cold water on the idea.
It is worth nothing that all three of these reports are saying that trading the first-round pick for a veteran isn’t on the table, but none of them ruled out trading down to stay in the draft, allowing them to continue to get younger.
The pick won’t be used to dump Paul George
Fischer also added that the organization still views George as a core member of the team moving forward, despite rumors they may look to move him as well.
“Sources say that recent reports suggesting that the Sixers will be looking to explore George’s trade market in conjunction with the draft are a misread. There have been no indications that they are looking to package George with the No. 3 pick or try to move him on his own.”
Despite the push for a younger roster, the Sixers have also publicly doubled down on their commitments to their two aging stars in Embiid and George. Even if they felt differently, this would be what the Sixers would have to say publicly. For the time being though, it seems those two are just as important to the future as McCain, Maxey and the third pick.
Sixers likely not in Kevin Durant sweepstakes
And that certainly tracks with everything else they’ve been saying.
Stepping away from his Substack, Stein, also apart of the All-City network, joined the PHNX Suns show to discuss their search for a head coach as well as the KD trade rumors. From the people he’s checked in with, it doesn’t seem like Philadelphia is going to push their chips in for that kind of trade.
“I know there was chatter this week about Philly and having possible interest. When I’ve checked out this scenario, it’s been strongly debunked to me. I do not think Philly is in the market for trying to pursue Kevin Durant.”
He does go on to say that there doesn’t seem to be much happening on that front, even saying he’s heard “nothing new.”
So the Sixers have been fairly consistent in the outline they are trying to project for the offseason. Time will tell how strictly they follow it.