Without reservations, the Philadelphia 76ers will approach the 2024-25 season with their heads held high after hitting the jackpot in this year’s free agency. After signing Paul George on the open market, the franchise can now lean on the potentially glorious Big Three to end its 41-year drought for a championship.

Expectations will be higher for the 76ers next season, and their overarching attitude means there are no excuses this time around. But had they failed to land their new, shiny toy, it seems they could have done almost as well, at least in terms of the name.

During a recent appearance and exchange with 76ers star Paul George on Podcast P with Paul George, DeMar DeRozan announced that Philadelphia was one of the destinations he had in mind as a possible home for the free agent.

Eventually signed by the Chicago Bulls and traded to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal (with the San Antonio Spurs), DeRozan now returns to the Western Conference where he hopes to help his new club return to the playoffs after missing the playoffs the previous season.

A Big Three of him, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox should be more than enough to put them in the thick of the playoff race in the West, though that’s still a tall order given the brutal difficulty and talent density of the conference.

Still, it’s probably the kismetic forces of the world that brought him to Sacramento instead of Philadelphia. Had the 76ers been able to sign him, they wouldn’t have been able to nab George, who, without wanting to offend DeRozan, is simply a much better fit because of his skill set and defensive prowess.