The Philadelphia 76ers once again have the players to make significant noise in a wide-open Eastern Conference, though health remains a major concern heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
The club’s star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey combined to appear in just 112 regular-season games in 2024-25, during which the Sixers finished with a lackluster 24-58 record. Still, if that core can stay relatively healthy, they have promising young talent in Jared McCain and V.J. Edgecombe to bolster the roster.
Maxey appears to be the future of the franchise, especially if Embiid’s injury concerns persist. George, entering his age-35 season in 2025-26 after signing a four-year, $211.6 million deal with the club in July 2024, showed significant regression when available last season. With that in mind, Philadelphia could eventually explore trading the aging forward, though the organization may struggle to find a team that is willing to take on his contract.
MORE: 76ers trade proposal sends Paul George to lousy Western Conference team
Mock trade sends Devin Booker to 76ers
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently put together a mock trade that would land Philadelphia four-time All-Star Devin Booker from the Phoenix Suns, though the Sixers would have to give up significant future assets.
Here’s Buckley’s proposed trade:
76ers receive: Devin Booker
Suns receive: Jared McCain, Paul George, 2028 first-round pick (via LAC), 2029 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick
The Suns are retooling their roster after trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and waiving Bradley Beal this offseason. If the club wants to accelerate a full rebuild, landing McCain and three first-round picks could do the trick.
While Booker recently signed a lucrative extension this summer, the Suns don’t own their own first-round pick until 2032 and may be looking for additional selections. McCain is also a strong option to lead the Suns into a new era, though they’d have to take on George’s hefty contract.
Booker has averaged at least 22.1 points per game since his second season in the NBA, making him one of the league’s premier scorers. However, trading him could help Phoenix reshape its roster after missing the postseason in 2024-25.
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