At the moment, there’s widespread parity in the NBA. Around the league, there are more competitive teams than we’ve seen in some time. This makes for a better product.
It doesn’t make for a more intriguing trade deadline. This year’s deadline just passed. It was a dud. With so many competitive teams, fewer organizations were looking to move star players.
With that in mind, it could be an interesting offseason. Contenders like the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers could blow up their rosters if they have a disappointing postseason run.
It’s already been rumored that the Sixers could like to make a run at the Clippers’ Paul George. Here’s a deal that sends him there.
NBA Trade Proposal
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: F Tobias Harris, F/C Paul Reed, 2026 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2028 First-Round Pick (LAC via PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: G/F Paul George
Parity isn’t the only reason for the quiet deadline. At the same time, the reasons are interconnected. The NBA isn’t simply a sports league – it’s a market. What happens on the floor will often determine what happens in the boardroom as well.
This was a buyer’s market. Most contenders who would have made major trades have already made their trades. Most teams who would have tanked finished tanking when Victor Wembanyama was drafted. For all of these reasons, deadline day was a bit boring in comparison to previous years.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Yet, those factors all reflect the league’s parity as well. There were fewer sellers because there were more good teams. We’ll see if the market shifts again in the summer. If it does, could the Clippers sell on George?
Why The Los Angeles Clippers Do The Deal
In simple terms, the Clippers do this deal if they fall short in the playoffs. At the moment, that doesn’t appear likely. The Clippers are one of the best teams in the NBA as of this writing.
Yet, there’s always an elephant in the room when it comes to the Clippers. Can they stay healthy? Kawhi Leonard is always a candidate to get injured. Unfortunately, George is as well.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
If injuries cost them a deep playoff run this year, they may want to retool. Here, they’d be landing Harris via sign-and-trade. He could keep the team relevant – and Reed is a solid rotation piece as well. Still, the Clippers mostly do this deal for the draft capital. Why do the Sixers do it?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
The Clippers only do this deal if they’re disappointing in the postseason. By contrast, the Sixers should be interested in it either way. After all, this team has a George-sized hole in their roster.
We’re referring to the James Harden trade. The Sixers sent him to the Clippers, and they didn’t receive a star in return. They still look like contenders, but if they don’t make a deep playoff run, they could rationalize that their roster was incomplete.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
By adding George, it would become whole. The Sixers would benefit by adding one of the best shot-creating 3-and-D wings in the NBA. If the Clippers fall short in the playoffs, don’t be surprised if the Sixers look to shift the league’s balance once again.
