Philadelphia 76ers’ biggest mistake at 2025 NBA trade deadline..
76ers’ trade deadline doesn’t signal a legitimate playoff push in 2025, nor any urgency to fix the problems.
The days of The Process are long gone. Nothing looks familiar with the Philadelphia 76ers franchise, and it has continued to get worse before it gets better.
The NBA trade deadline offered a chance to rectify many roster deficiencies that have led to this faulty season. Instead, the front office made a pair of mid-level moves – swapping a previous playoff weapon in Caleb Martin and a 2030 second-round draft pick for Dallas Mavericks guard Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick – and further bolstered the backcourt depth with the addition of Jared Butler and four future second-round picks from the Washington Wizards for Reggie Jackson and a 2026 first-round pick.
While Grimes and Butler have each brought a modest upgrade to the rotation – Grimes averaging a career-best 16.8 points on 48.0 percent shooting since joining the 76ers, and Butler with 10.0 points on 42.3 percent shooting – the team remains out of the Eastern Conference playoff conversation at 20-34.
Surprisingly enough for the fans, a play-in appearance is not out of the realm of possibility due to the inferiority of the East’s lower half. However, that’s far from the initial blueprint of a team that called in a premier reinforcement in max free agent Paul George over the offseason. The 76ers signed George to a four-year, $212 million contract, and thus far, they have yet to see any of the expected return on that considerable investment.
In the team’s final outing before the All-Star break on February 12, it appeared that George’s mind was already on vacation. He logged 37 minutes and produced just one basket in the 100-96 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey continue to be the cornerstones of the franchise, and time will tell if their partnership on the court is what’s best for the future. In the interim, though, the 76ers are holding on for dear life trying to salvage what’s left of this season (that, to be honest, feels all but lost).
With the trade deadline in the rearview, the options going forward are limited, and bleak for general manager Daryl Morey and the rest of the front office.
76ers whiff at opportunity to trade Paul George
Feb 12, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) brings the ball up court against Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Let’s bear in mind that the 76ers’ issues are not solely on George. The organization has to share its part of the blame for how loosely it threw the big bucks at the 34-year-old veteran without a true plan of action. The days of rolling the ball out and letting three big-name stars run the show have passed.
