5 NBA Stars Philadelphia 76ers Can Acquire By Trading No. 3 Overall Pick
After a dismal 24–58 season that saw the Philadelphia 76ers miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the franchise faces a pivotal offseason. Despite high expectations following the acquisition of Paul George, the team struggled with injuries and underperformance, leading to a disappointing 13th-seed finish in the Eastern Conference.
Now, holding the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Sixers have a valuable asset that could be leveraged to acquire a proven star to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The team might be open to trading this pick, with potential targets including Zion Williamson and even Trae Young. Such a move could provide the immediate impact needed to return the Sixers to championship contention.
Advertisement
In the following sections, we will explore five NBA stars the 76ers could pursue by trading the No. 3 pick, analyzing how each could fit into Philadelphia's roster and contribute to a potential title run.
1. Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: Paul George, Quentin Grimes (Sign-and-Trade), 2025 No. 3 Overall Pick
Kevin Durant continued to defy age (approaching 37 years old), delivering elite performances in his 17th NBA season despite a horrific season for the Phoenix Suns. In the 2024–25 campaign, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting an efficient 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from beyond the arc.
Advertisement
His scoring prowess and experience make him a valuable asset for any championship-contending team, which is why he will almost certainly be moved this summer. For the Philadelphia 76ers, acquiring Durant would add a proven scorer to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Durant's ability to create his own shot and stretch defenses could open up opportunities for Embiid in the post and Maxey on the perimeter. Paul George and the No. 3 overall pick will likely never amount to what KD can do for a title-contender, so the 76ers will need to go all-in as soon as possible to maximize their All-Star-quality core.
2. Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesMandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Quentin Grimes (Sign-and-Trade), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Sign-and-Trade), 2025 No. 3 Overall Pick, 2028 Second-Round Pick (PHI), 2031 Second-Round Pick (PHI)
Zion Williamson's 2024–25 season with the New Orleans Pelicans was marked by both impressive performance and injury setbacks. In the 30 games he played, Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, shooting an efficient 56.7% from the field. However, his season was cut short due to a back injury, and that is why we have heard rumblings that the Pelicans are done with the former All-Star.
Advertisement
For the Philadelphia 76ers, acquiring Williamson could provide a dynamic frontcourt partner for Joel Embiid. Williamson's ability to drive to the basket and create plays could complement Embiid's post presence and Tyrese Maxey's perimeter shooting.
However, the 76ers would need to consider the risk associated with Williamson's injury history, especially given the significant assets required for the trade, including the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Considering how bad the Sixers were this past season, perhaps this risk is necessary.
3. Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesMandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Quentin Grimes (Sign-and-Trade), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Sign-and-Trade), Jared McCain, 2025 No. 3 Overall Pick
Trae Young led the NBA in assists during the 2024–25 season for the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 11.6 per game, along with 24.2 points. Unfortunately, it hasn't amounted to enough wins, which is why the point guard's future is murky right now.
Advertisement
His playmaking ability and scoring prowess make him an attractive option for the 76ers, who could use a dynamic point guard to orchestrate their offense. We don't often see two smaller guards start for a title-contender, but this case could be different.
Pairing Young with Embiid and Maxey could create a potent offensive trio. Young's ability to stretch defenses with his shooting and facilitate scoring opportunities would alleviate pressure on Embiid and open up the floor for Maxey. Trae has proven he can take a team to the Eastern Conference Finals before, so perhaps he is the missing piece for Embiid.
4. Zach LaVine
Mar 10, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) dribbles the ball up the court against the New York Knicks during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls Receive: Paul George, 2025 No. 3 Overall Pick
Zach LaVine averaged 23.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game during the 2024–25 season with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings, showcasing his scoring efficiency with a 51.1% field goal percentage. His athleticism and shooting ability could provide the 76ers with an explosive wing scorer to complement Embiid and Maxey.
Advertisement
LaVine's ability to create his own shot and stretch the defense would be a valuable asset for the 76ers' offense. However, his defensive shortcomings and substantial contract, $47.5 million in 2025–26 with a $48.9 million player option in 2026–27, pose financial and strategic considerations.
Trading Paul George and the No. 3 pick for LaVine would be a significant move, and the 76ers would need to assess whether LaVine's contributions align with their championship aspirations. Considering how bad they were this season, adding a 20+ PPG scorer makes a ton of sense.
5. Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesCredit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: Paul George, 2025 No. 3 Overall Pick
Lauri Markkanen had a solid 2024–25 season with the Utah Jazz, averaging 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. His shooting percentages, however, saw a dip, with a field goal percentage of 42.3% and a three-point percentage of 34.6%.
Advertisement
Despite this, Markkanen's size and shooting ability make him a versatile forward capable of spacing the floor. In Philadelphia, Markkanen could serve as a complementary piece alongside Embiid and Maxey, providing additional scoring and floor spacing.
His presence could alleviate some of the offensive burden on Embiid and create more driving lanes for Maxey. Markkanen fits with the Sixers' rotation defensively as well, because he is 7'0" and can occupy three positions on the floor.
Related: 5 Trades To Reshape Philadelphia 76ers Into Eastern Conference Powerhouse
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Five reasons the New York Knicks lost the Eastern Conference finals
The New York Knicks will have plenty of time to dissect what went wrong in the Eastern Conference finals. New York was trying to make its first NBA Finals since 1999, and, after being eliminated in consecutive years by the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks must be proactive and honest about changes they will need to make to break through. Advertisement For one, the team relies so significantly on All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson that he's often tasked with saving New York. But that's just the beginning. OPINION: Small-market Pacers party down in big way with NBA Finals trip MORE: Pascal Siakam named Eastern Conference finals MVP after Pacers down Knicks Five reasons why the New York Knicks lost the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers: 1. Going down 0-2 at home Teams simply cannot gift games during the postseason, especially during the conference finals. Game 1, when the Knicks held a nine-point lead with 58.8 seconds left to play, was the epitome of a missed opportunity. The Knicks actually held a 17-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but they became complacent and could not answer Indiana's pace. It was bad enough for the Knicks to drop the series opener at home, but it was even worse when they dropped Game 2 in the Garden to fall behind 0-2 headed to Indiana. 2. Trying to match Indiana's tempo From Game 1, it appeared that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau's preference was to try to match Indiana's speed, rather than to grind games down. It would turn out to be misguided. The Knicks ranked 27th in the regular season in pace, generating 97.64 possessions per 48 minutes. Indiana ranked seventh (100.76). While the Knicks sometimes did have success against the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics in the earlier rounds when pushing tempo, New York would've been far better off slowing the game against the Pacers because this was exactly how Indiana wanted to play. 3. Turnovers The Knicks committed more turnovers than the Pacers in all but one of the games, and New York lost the turnover margin overall, 93-75. In itself, that's pretty bad, but it gets worse. Because of the speed with which the Pacers play, those turnovers turned into easy offense: the Pacers posted a crushing 140-61 advantage in points off turnovers throughout the series. 4. Transition defense The previous point feeds somewhat into this. But whether it was off of turnovers, missed shots or even out of inbounds passes on made attempts, New York did not sustain precise focus on spotting Pacers leaking out in transition. While physically demanding, Thibodeau could've done more to tweak strategy, insisting that players drop back to prevent fastbreak chances. The Pacers registered more fastbreak points than New York in every game this series. Frankly, that was always going to be the likely outcome; the margin is what was concerning. The Pacers scored 106 fastbreak points across the six games, while the Knicks put up just 48. 5. Tom Thibodeau's inconsistent use of the bench Knicks center Mitchell Robinson battles for the ball against Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, rear, and center Myles Turner (33) during Game 6. It wasn't until Game 3 of the series, after the Knicks were already desperate and down 0-2, that Thibodeau tweaked the rotation to match up better with Indiana. Thibodeau has always been a coach set in his ways, and his reluctance to go with fresher legs — against a team that sprints up and down the floor — was baffling. This is magnified further because guards Delon Wright and Landry Shamet are known to be plus-defenders, something New York sorely needed earlier in the series when Indiana's guards were scoring at will. Thibodeau did receive some credit when he eventually extended his rotation; it came far too late. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Knicks: Eastern Conference finals loss explained
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Predictions: Where the top five uncommitted LBs will land
The big visit month of June is coming up so before all of that happens, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney takes a look at the top five uncommitted prospects at each position. We move to the linebackers: THIS SERIES: Commitment predictions for top QBs | Predictions for top RBs | Predictions for top WRs | Predictions for top TEs | Predictions for top OL | Predictions for top DL CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info The five-star linebacker is at Clemson this weekend and the Tigers have always been right toward the top of his recruitment but it would take some cajoling to get Atkinson to commit there. Advertisement Georgia remains the team to beat and Ohio State is definitely right at the top as well with Alabama, Auburn, Oregon and others heavily involved. The Buckeyes and the Tigers could have an argument here but Georgia remains the top team for the Loganville (Ga.) Grayson standout. Prediction: Georgia The former USC commit is visiting Ohio State this weekend and that could change things with Texas heavily pushing and Florida State very involved as well but Alabama is the team to beat here. The Alabama legacy shortly after his decommitment from the Trojans announced his new visits and his commitment date of June 29 which makes one wonder if he already has an idea of what he's planning to do. Alabama has surged to the top here and while his upcoming visits are crucial, the Crimson Tide will be tough to beat. Advertisement Prediction: Alabama As Ili's recruitment has come more into focus, USC and UCLA have emerged as the front-runners. Oregon and many others are not eliminated or counted out yet but even as Ili decided to play his senior season at Kahuku, Hawaii, the former Orange (Calif.) Lutheran standout has his sights set on Southern California. A recent visit to UCLA could not have been better. Ili is related to Nico and Madden Iamaleava, who both transferred to Westwood for this season, and the staff was awesome there. But USC has been a front-runner basically from the beginning and that has not changed. It could be tough to beat the Trojans. Advertisement Prediction: USC Others will host the four-star linebacker from Marietta (Ga.) Kell this month as he's at Alabama this weekend and then Michigan and Texas before returning to Tennessee to close out the month. Rouse was just in Knoxville for the 865 Live event and in a few short weeks he'll be back which could close out his commitment with the Vols leading. At this point, as visits are just getting underway, it would be a shocker if he didn't end up at Tennessee. Prediction: Tennessee Alabama, Penn State and Ohio State are the three front-runners for the four-star linebacker from Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville and while he's in Tuscaloosa this weekend, this very much feels like a two-team race. Advertisement The Buckeyes are considered the leader - and have been for a long time - but Penn State is making this one really tough especially because Johnson likes coach James Franklin, has a longstanding relationship with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (from his time at Ohio State) and he loved his visit to Happy Valley recently. But we're still going to lean half-heartedly on history here - Ohio State doesn't let too many elite in-state players go. Prediction: Ohio State
Hamilton Spectator
21 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The Knicks' all-in moves didn't get them all the way there. But they are getting close
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks went further than they'd gone in 25 years, just not as far as they hoped. They signaled they were serious about making a run at the NBA title when they traded for Mikal Bridges in the summer and then Karl-Anthony Towns in a preseason blockbuster, adding a top perimeter defender and an All-Star center to a lineup headlined by Jalen Brunson. Their all-in moves just couldn't get them all the way there. The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, leaving them without a championship since 1973. But after advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000 following consecutive second-round exits, they could at least feel that they are getting closer. 'So it's improvement from last year, but it's ultimately not what our ultimate goal is,' coach Tom Thibodeau said. After Boston rolled to the 2024 title and brought back all its key players, the Celtics were viewed as strong favorites in the East. Yet after building gradually since Leon Rose's arrival as team president in 2020, the Knicks weren't conceding anything to the champions. They re-signed OG Anunoby to the largest contract in team history, then traded five first-round picks in the deal to acquire Bridges from Brooklyn. Just as they were set to begin training camp, the Knicks dealt two starters in All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had just set their single-season 3-point record, to get Towns from Minnesota. The moves made the Knicks good enough to get past the Celtics in the second round . But it turned out to not be the right roster against the deep and speedy Pacers, who knocked them out for the second straight season. 'You make the moves to win, so it hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship,' Towns said. 'We've got a bunch of great guys in that locker room and the plan now is just to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.' First, Rose and the front office will have to evaluate just how close the Knicks really are. Their 51-31 record left them a distant third in the East behind Cleveland and Boston, and they went a combined 0-8 against those teams in the regular season before they finished off the Celtics in the second round after Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4. With two All-NBA selections in Brunson and Towns, the starting lineup is one of the NBA's strongest. The bench could use a boost, as the Knicks lack the solid depth of the Cavaliers and Celtics — and certainly of the Pacers. Still, after being mostly miles away for two decades, the Knicks have turned themselves into a contender. They have won 50 games in back-to-back seasons and made the playoffs in four of five under Thibodeau. Even after Saturday's defeat, there was belief that the Knicks will get another shot soon. 'The most confidence. Overconfident,' Brunson said when asked if he was confident the Knicks had a group that could win. 'Seriously. There's not an ounce of any type of doubt that I'm not confident with this group.' The extension their captain agreed to last summer that was far below maximum value could help add to it. And perhaps the Knicks are finally at the point that there isn't much to do. The Knicks surely will regret letting this chance get away, unable to recover from their Game 1 collapse at home when they blew a 14-point lead in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter. So naturally, there was disappointment. That's all there had been in New York in the 2000s. Now there's also hope. 'And so I think the challenge for us is to look at it for what it is,' Thibodeau said. 'And it's, we finished in the top three, but we're falling short of the ultimate goal, and so for us it's to use that for motivation and determination to work all summer to prepare ourselves to make the final step and keep improving so we can achieve our goal.' ___ AP NBA:
