Joel Embiid and Paul George are likely to lace up for the Philadelphia 76ers next season. The duo’s first season together was a damp squib with the Eastern Conference unit failing to make the playoffs after a 13th-place finish. Neither of the stars played over 45 games as the Sixers struggled, eventually ending their campaign with a whimper.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, neither Embiid nor George are on the trade block. He added that multiple reports about George’s future with the franchise were a ‘misread’ and that Philly was looking to run it back with the trio.
Jake Fischer Weighs In On Joel Embiid And Paul George Trade Rumors
In his latest ‘The Stein Line’, Fischer wrote about how the Sixers were looking to retain their marquee stars. “Don’t expect that duo, furthermore, to be broken up. Sources say that recent reports suggesting that the Sixers will be looking to explore George’s trade market in conjunction with the draft are a misread,” he wrote.
He further added, “It has been whispered often in league circles, going back to Philadelphia’s free agency courtship of George last summer, that the Sixers would not turn around and try to move their marquee acquisition in the early stages of his Philly tenure unless George asked for a deal himself.”
The Philadelphia 76ers are not looking to break up their duo of Joel Embiid and Paul George, per @JakeLFischer
“Don’t expect that duo, furthermore, to be broken up. Sources say that recent reports suggesting that the Sixers will be looking to explore George’s trade market in… pic.twitter.com/4UU4XokwsZ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 21, 2025
George had a rather damp first season with Philly. He made headlines last season after inking a plush four-year, $211 million contract with the side last summer. The seasoned wing averaged just 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season in 41 appearances. As for Embiid, a lingering knee injury saw him take the hardwood for just 19 games this season. He averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Earlier, the former Los Angeles Clippers star rued how an injury during the preseason derailed his entire season with the 76ers. Speaking on his podcast, he revealed coming into the city healthy. “I didn’t have any hiccups. I spent the whole offseason working on my body and getting healthy. Then I get to Philly. Preseason, I get hurt.”
“I didn’t have my burst,” the nine-time NBA All-Star detailed. “I couldn’t move. I couldn’t pin what it was. So I started taking medicine to numb it up. Then I had an injury I didn’t even know about. That’s when I found out I had a torn adductor. That whole time, I just couldn’t move.”
For now, Fischer’s take suggests that the 76ers are not hitting the panic button and are likely to give their stars another season. Only time will tell if Philadelphia can have a strong 2025-26 season.
