NBA Rumors got a kickstart as Jim Jackson describes the perfect fit of Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers. And he’s right
The Philadelphia 76ers fans have long held the wish of getting Paul George, a.k.a. PG13, to the team via trade or free agency. Now, thanks to Big East commentator Jim Jackson, visitng with Colin Cowherd, he is soliciting for Paul George to land on the Philadelphia 76ers. And in all honesty, it makes incredible sense.
Right now, George is playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is under contract for a player option to remain with the Thunder next season at $20.7 Million. But that is his option. What if he doesn’t take it? After all, the 4-seed Thunder are down 1-2 to the 5-seed and surprising Utah Jazz. And at this pace, with so much of the entire Oklahoma City fortunes on the back of Russell Westbrook, the ability of that team to improve much going forward is in question. And that uncertainty matters to a veteran who wants to win an NBA Championship ring.
No question in Philly
But there is no question of Paul George’s fit in Philly. He is a versatile player. And as a reminder, Philadelphia loves versatility. He is a front court man who can pivot between power forward and small forward. He is 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, plenty of size to mix it up in the paint. But he is a solid shooter whose 37.6 percent from three-point range is tough to ignore. Of course, so are those 21.9 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 3.3 assists.
While Paul George does not exclude the team from signing J.J. Redick, it does make the salary elements challenging. How many years would PG want? How many years would Redick want? In the end, the 76ers have enough salary cap to sign anyone. But they must keep an eye on tomorrow as well. Still, George is a solid fit and completing just his eighth NBA season. He does not dominate the team he is on. Rather, he fills his responsibility to the team to the best of his ability. Those characteristics placed him on the Sixers bullseye of trade targets in the past. Now, if he opts out of his final contract year, there is every reason to believe the team would pursue him again.
Jim Jackson sees perfect fit
The consensus in NBA circles now are that both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are two of the three players needed for an NBA Championship. Jim Jackson sees Paul George as a perfect fit for that third player.
"We're always talking about Paul George going to LA. What if he went to Philly to be that 3rd guy?" — @jimjackson419 pic.twitter.com/lkFUmFm7H3
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) April 23, 2018
At what cost? He’s slated in a $20.7 Million next season. But the team is losing shooting guard J.J. Redick at $23 Million this year. Do they give George a two-year $50 Million contract? If they do, would he sign? If the Philadelphia 76ers get to the NBA Finals, all bets are off. A player of Paul George’s caliber is a fit and could be the piece to place this 76ers team over the hump. Every roster move from this point forward is a trade off. But signing George, if the opportunity presents itself, seems like a risk worth taking.