Report: 76ers Could Offer Paul George, No. 3 Pick For Kevin Durant Or Lauri Markkanen

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Philadelphia 76ers could offer Paul George and the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft for Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant or Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen.

Despite having George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers missed the playoffs this year. They were so bad that they didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament. 

“Some teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations, with names such as Kevin Durant (Phoenix) and Lauri Markkanen (Utah) as potential targets in packages that could include Paul George and the No. 3 pick,” Givony wrote. “Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has made a career of being active and aggressive on the trade front, but historically, it’s rare to see a top-three pick being traded.”

Durant and the Suns are expected to part ways this summer after missing the postseason this year. Durant, who turns 37 in the fall, has one year left on his contract. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. 

Markkanen and the Jazz also missed the playoffs this year. Markkanen signed a four-year, $195 million extension with the Jazz last summer. It was a renegotiation-and-extend deal. Markkanen averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists this season. 

George struggled in his first season with the Sixers after signing a lucrative four-year, $211 million contract with the franchise last summer. The veteran averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season in 41 games.