The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into a busy offseason. Several big decisions are ahead, and each one could affect the team’s future. Right now, there are rumors about a possible trade for Kevin Durant, questions about Paul George’s health, a high draft pick to use or trade, and decisions to make on players like Guerschon Yabusele.
The news about Kevin Durant is getting a lot of attention. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Durant and his business partner, Rich Kleiman, met with the Phoenix Suns multiple times over the past week to talk about possible trades. Durant is 36 years old and still playing at a high level. Last season, he played in 62 games and averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He was also named an All-Star for the fifteenth time. He is under contract for next season and will make $54.7 million. If he’s traded, he can sign a two-year extension with his new team.
Charania reported that five teams have already shown interest in Durant: the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks. He also mentioned that several “wild-card” teams reached out in the past seven to ten days. The 76ers were not named in the report, but they could be one of the unnamed teams asking about Durant. This is especially possible since injuries caused them to miss the playoffs.
If the Sixers do try to trade for Durant, one option might involve Paul George. George is under contract for four years at $212 million. However, he had a tough season, as he missed over 40 games due to injury. On his show, “Podcast P with Paul George,” he explained that although he came into the season healthy, he suffered a torn adductor during the preseason. At first, he didn’t know what was wrong, just that he couldn’t move well and had to take medicine to numb the pain. Later, doctors found the injury. He played through it, but it clearly affected his performance.
Despite this, it seems the Sixers are not looking to trade George at this time. Reporter Jake Fischer said that recent reports about George being involved in trade talks are not accurate. He explained that there’s no sign the Sixers plan to trade George or package him with the No. 3 draft pick. Fischer also pointed out that George’s trade value is low right now, partly because of his injuries and the three years left on his max contract.
Now, the Sixers will pick third in the 2025 NBA Draft, which gives them a lot of power. Most experts believe the top two picks are already decided, so what the Sixers do next could shape the rest of the draft. A mock draft from CBS Sports predicts they will take Tre Johnson, a freshman from Texas. Johnson led all freshmen in scoring and averaged 19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He also shot 39.7% from three-point range, making nearly seven attempts per game. Johnson is known for being able to shoot and handle the ball, which is useful in today’s game.
On the flip side, people believe the Sixers might trade the pick instead of using it. Since Joel Embiid is already in his prime, they might want to bring in a veteran player to help win now. But if they do keep the pick, Johnson is seen as a top-three prospect who could fit even with young guards like Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain already on the team.
Another piece of the offseason puzzle is Guerschon Yabusele. He joined the Sixers after playing in the EuroLeague and is now an unrestricted free agent. Yabusele is known for playing well on both offense and defense. He brings experience and effort, but the Sixers have to decide if he still fits their plans. His future with the team depends on their roster needs and how much space they have under the salary cap. Yabusele has said he wants to keep improving and compete at a high level, but nothing is guaranteed.
Former Sixers general manager Billy King also shared some advice recently. In a talk with Sixers Wire, he said the team needs more athletic players around Embiid. King pointed out that teams like Oklahoma City, Indiana, and Boston are winning by using fast, athletic players who are about 6-foot-8. He said today’s game is more about switching on defense and creating mismatches through movement, not just having strong players in the post. This could mean the Sixers need to focus on adding more athleticism, especially in their frontcourt.
Altogether, the Sixers have a lot to figure out this summer. They have to decide whether to go after Kevin Durant, what to do with the No. 3 draft pick, whether to count on Paul George returning to full health, and whether to re-sign Guerschon Yabusele.
