The Sixer Sense
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Sixers reportedly made an offer for Paul George

By Christopher Kline

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JULY 12: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks to fans and media during a media event on July 12, 2017 at the Jones Assembly Hall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JULY 12: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks to fans and media during a media event on July 12, 2017 at the Jones Assembly Hall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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According to one recent report, the Philadelphia 76ers were willing to make a big splash beyond the Markelle Fultz acquisition.

While some mentioned the Philadelphia 76ers are a team who could potentially swing a blockbuster deal early in the offseason, their decision to trade up for the first overall pick — which yielded Markelle Fultz — eventually quieted those discussions.

According to Brian Windhorst, however, the Sixers didn’t necessarily take themselves out of the discussion for one of the biggest names on the trade market: Paul George.

There are a few things to note here, with the foremost fact being that Philadelphia obviously low-balled Indiana. The Pacers may have been apprehensive about shipping George elsewhere in the conference, but the fact that Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo were all they got in return speaks to just how hesitant teams were to commit to what could end up being just one season of Paul George.

Philadelphia has plenty of young assets already, with a team that’s rapidly trending towards competitiveness in the East. Offloading a player like Dario Saric or Robert Covington — or potentially even Fultz — might not have been worth the risk.

George would clearly have a big impact for the Sixers as they’re currently constructed. He’d be their best player from the get-go, giving them a perimeter scoring threat that they’ve consistently lacked in years past while also fitting their mold of positionless, switch-heavy defense.

At 6-foot-8, George is one of the best defensive stars in the league. It’s rare that you find elite offensive players who play both sides of the ball as well as he does, and that in and of itself would be a positive given Brett Brown’s commitment to the defensive end.

George would have launched the Sixers into a different competitive echelon, while also giving them their first taste of solidified, consistent star play in quite some time. While Joel Embiid is quickly gaining steam and both Fultz and Ben Simmons have high ceilings themselves, Philadelphia hasn’t embraced a full-blown star during The Process era — much less a healthy one.

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The long term approach might be the best one, though. The Sixers will still compete for a playoff spot this season, while their current core combines the three best young talents in the league. Allowing them to grow together without the risk and media overhang that would stem from taking on George’s expiring contract makes sense.