This year, the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers were swept in consecutive rounds of the postseason by the New York Knicks.
As a result, both teams will be looking to upgrade over the offseason in order to avoid a similar fate next year, and one trade proposal sees the two teams swapping stars over the offseason.
76ers Flip V.J. Edgecombe for Donovan Mitchell in Proposed Offseason Trade with Cavaliers
GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 01, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed a trade between the Sixers and Cavaliers that would ship V.J. Edgecombe, Paul George and Philadelphia’s 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus.
Swartz says that the opportunity to get off Paul George’s contract while also pairing Mitchell with Tyrese Maxey in the frontcourt could be intriguing for Philly, while the additions of George and Edgecombe could help keep the Cavs in the contender conversation in the Eastern Conference both in the present and into the future.
“Edgecombe is probably untouchable after his fantastic rookie season. The 20-year-old averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals while starting all 75 of his games. … But if Philly can pair Mitchell next to Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt AND get off the George contract, it’s a conversation the front office at least needs to have,” Swartz wrote.
“For Cleveland, pairing Edgecombe with Evan Mobley is the foundation for sustained success on both ends of the ball. George (17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and Harden reunite to keep the Cavs in the playoff picture while Cleveland adds a second first-round pick to in their quest to get younger around Mobley and Edgecombe. … The Cavs would take a step back next season, yet have a better long-term outlook, especially when George and Harden’s contracts come off the books in a year or two.”
76ers Shouldn’t Consider Trading V.J. Edgecombe
While maybe fun to think about, this isn’t a deal that the Sixers should consider. Edgecombe has the makings of a future two-way star, and trading him after one season, especially for a player who is nearly a decade older with repeated postseason failures, would be borderline malpractice. Edgecombe represents hope for the future for the Sixers swapping that hope for a couple years of Mitchell would be shortsighted.
Plus, George’s deal with the Sixers isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be. He only has two years left, and one of those years is a player option that he could turn down in favor of free agency. Considering that George was Philadelphia’s best wing player by a wide margin last season, the Sixers might want to hold onto him.
So while intriguing on paper, this proposed trade from Bleacher Report should be a non-starter for Philadelphia.
76ers Swap Prized Rookie for Established Star in Proposed Offseason Trade