The Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz have reportedly held talks on a potential trade involving All-Star forward Paul George, according to Locked On Jazz’s Andy Larsen, as cited by Evan Sidery.
The framework discussed would send George to Utah while Philadelphia would drop from the No. 3 pick to No. 5 in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The deal, still in exploratory stages, would allow the 76ers to move off the 35-year-old’s four-year, $212 million contract, signed last July.
George’s first season in Philadelphia was marred by injuries and inconsistent play, limiting him to 41 appearances and culminating in a March announcement that he would miss the rest of the season due to adductor and knee issues.
In those 41 games, George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per contest.
The 76ers finished the year with a 24–58 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
After beginning the season with a core of George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia plummeted in the standings amid questions about team chemistry, player availability, and front office decision-making.
On the other side of the proposed deal, Utah would acquire George as a veteran presence to pair with a young roster and the No. 3 overall pick.
However, the Jazz would be betting on a bounce-back campaign from a player coming off one of his least productive seasons.
Utah finished last in the league with a 17–65 record and allowed the third-most points per game in NBA history (121.2), while failing to improve on last season’s 31–51 mark.
They currently own the fifth overall pick in the 2025 Draft, which features highly-touted prospects such as Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey.
If completed, the trade would effectively give the Jazz the No. 3 selection while taking on George’s full contract.
For Philadelphia, the deal would free up cap space and provide some flexibility moving forward, potentially allowing them to target younger talent at No. 5 while shifting the roster around Embiid and Maxey.
It remains unclear whether other assets—such as future picks or player salary filler—would be needed to balance the trade.
As both franchises head into the offseason following disappointing seasons, draft night could present a turning point for each organization’s rebuild.
The 2025 NBA Draft begins June 25.
