The lengthy suspension handed down to Paul George from the NBA hasn’t altered the Philadelphia 76ers’ stance regarding their blossoming backcourt heading into the trade deadline.
Star guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe remain unavailable and completely off the table in trade talks, according to a league source familiar with the team’s thinking.
Maxey, 25, is in the midst of the best season of his career. The dynamic Kentucky product was recently named an All-Star starter for the first time in his career. He’s also legitimately in the MVP conversation. The Sixers have long viewed Maxey as a foundational piece, and his consistently improving play has only strengthened that view.
The same could be said about rookie guard V.J. Edgecombe, who doesn’t yet have the resume to match Maxey’s, but is viewed in a similar light by Philadelphia’s front office. At this early stage of his career, Edgecombe has been everything the Sixers could have hoped for, and more.
So, while some have suggested that George’s suspension could make the Sixers a bit more desperate at the deadline, it hasn’t made them desperate enough to part with either piece of the duo that has fondly become known as “VJ Maxx.”
The suspension doesn’t make a trade involving George any more likely, either. The Sixers weren’t expected to move George prior to the deadline before the suspension, and the fact that he’s now sidelined for virtually the rest of the regular season will likely scare away potential suitors who would have wanted to integrate him into a rotation for a playoff push. So, while a George trade isn’t technically impossible, it’s extremely unlikely.
Joel Embiid isn’t going anywhere, either. So, that leaves the Sixers with little to work with leading up to the deadline.
Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. represent Philadelphia’s two largest expiring contracts, so trying to get some value for them before potentially losing them in free agency would make sense. But, both play vital roles on the team as currently constructed. Plus, Grimes has a no-trade clause built into his contract, which could complicate any potential deals involving him.
The Sixers have entertained the idea of trading Andre Drummond, but it remains to be seen what kind of return they could get for the veteran center, who is on a $5 million expiring contract.
The Sixers aren’t necessarily looking to take on salary beyond the current campaign, either, which also limits potential trade options. Grimes, Oubre, Drummond, Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon will all be coming off the books after the season, and the organization values the cap space that will be created at that point.
If the Sixers were going to take a player back in a trade with a contract that extends beyond this season, it would have to be a player that they view as a long-term fit.
Daryl Morey has made a deal at the deadline every single year since he’s been in Philadelphia. But, given the current constraints, finding a trade that substantially raises the team’s ceiling will be difficult for the Sixers.
Ultimately, Philadelphia’s clearest path to improvement and contention this season could come from continued cohesion and health (hopefully).
Follow Michael Kaskey-Blomain on X @therealmikekb.