3-Team Trade Breakdown: Lakers, Jazz & 76ers Swap Assets for Playoff Edge

The Three-Way Shuffle That Makes Sense

Let me drop the mic: if this trade actually happens—Lakers get George, Jazz get the 76ers’ 3rd pick plus Keegan Murray and a future first; 76ers offload George for a pile of expiring deals—then we’re looking at one of the most balanced moves in recent memory.

Not because it’s flashy. But because it fixes three teams’ biggest pain points. And yes—I’ve run the numbers in my database since 5:30 AM.

Why George Is Now a Liability

George was once elite. Now? He’s on a $40M+ contract with zero defensive impact and limited offensive upside beyond mid-range catch-and-shoots. In today’s NBA? That’s not just bad—it’s toxic.

The Sixers know this. They’re not bluffing—they’re actively shopping him to free up cap space and avoid being stuck with another “high-salary non-impact” player like Jalen Brunson or Deandre Ayton.

The Real MVP? Keegan Murray (aka ‘凯斯勒’)

Wait—wasn’t that supposed to be ‘Cassius Stanley’ or ‘KZ Okpala’?

Nope. This is about Keegan Murray—yes, that Keegan Murray—the guy who averaged 18 PPG last season with elite spacing and off-ball movement.

For the Lakers? He’s not just a backup center—he’s an upgrade on paper over Anthony Davis in pick-and-roll defense and floor spacing.

And here’s the kicker: They only pay $2M more than what they’d lose by keeping Russell Westbrook or even Austin Reaves as backup bigs.

Why This Trade Works for All Three Teams (Yes, Really)

• Lakers: Get Kyrie-level shooting without paying Kyrie money—or playing him at point guard.
• Jazz: Shed George’s contract while grabbing a young wing + draft capital. A win-win even if they don’t draft top-tier talent.
• 76ers: Clear salary cap space for potential additions this summer while trading assets that were dead weight anyway.

It’s rare when everyone benefits—but data says this one could be legit.

The Hidden Risk: Defense Without Structure

Now let me bring out my clipboard—and my inner critic from Chicago South Side streets: The new Lakers lineup features LeBron James, Ja Morant (if traded), Luka Doncic… oh wait—the fantasy version has Eastwood-Rivers-George-James-Murray all on one team? That means zero natural ball-handlers when James sits out late-game situations. And defense? Good luck against two-man games when your backcourt is built around jump shooters who can’t defend screens well enough to survive an AAU tournament.

But — here’s the real talk — regular-season depth isn’t everything. You fix weaknesses later through trades or bench adjustments during January trades window. The current structure is solid enough to survive early-season grind fights against teams like Denver or Phoenix.