The only way the Philadelphia Sixers can reverse last summer's Paul George free agency signing is by hoping for the best. Literally — their best bet is to hope that he bounces back next season, whether that be to up his trade value for a deadline deal, or to help the Sixers secure a playoff berth as a top team in the East.
Philadelphia received the No. 3 pick at the draft lottery, putting the organization in an interesting situation. The Sixers could draft a young talent like Ace Bailey or package the pick in a trade. There was speculation that they would attach it to George to help them move off his contract, but Jake Fischer reported that there "are no indications" (subscription required) that the Sixers want to do that.
George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game (41) this past season, shooting 43% from the field and 35.8% from three. That isn't the version of George that Philadelphia signed up for. He showed flashes of the star the Sixers need him to be, but those instances were few and far between.
Sixers need to hope Paul George will get off to hot start in 2025-26
Philadelphia's success next season rides more on Embiid than on George, but the Sixers are running out of chances to have a winning team with their star center. Having George look like the player he was in 2023-24 would take a lot of pressure off the front office's shoulders.
Some things are working in the Sixers' favor, believe it or not. The East is the weaker of the two NBA conferences, by a wide margin, making it "easier" for Philadelphia to climb the standings after its 24-58 finish this past season. The Sixers don't need to be dominant to finish in the top six and secure an automatic playoff berth; they need to be competitive.
This past season left a bitter taste in George's mouth. He isn't the player he was in his prime, but that doesn't lessen the impact he can make for Philadelphia on both ends of the court. He should want to give fans a reason to forget the 2024-25 season, and the easiest way to do so will be to get off to a hot start at the beginning of next season. And, of course, hopefully, there won't be a drop-off if that happens.
George's value is too low for the Sixers to get anything valuable in return, and they shouldn't be desperate enough to move off him by trading the No. 3 pick. Give him another season — at least the first half of the season — to see what he can do. There isn't a better alternative.