Dumb decision has 76ers snatching rival contender’s chance for redemption

With the Philadelphia 76ers still nursing injuries to their two All-Stars, their season has taken on a suspended character. The on-court product has expectedly been ugly to kick things off, but this shorthanded version of the club is nowhere near what it is capable of, both in theory, and even more importantly, in practice.

Joel Embiid and Paul George’s impending returns will drastically shift the dynamic of the squad. Tyrese Maxey has done his utmost best to hold down the fort in the absence of his two co-stars, but of course, defenses have tripled down on silencing him night after night, and the results haven’t been pretty.

Embiid’s eventual debut will obviously shoot 76ers basketball up the moon, but George’s return should not be taken as a mere accessory. The franchise’s marquee addition in free agency is easily a perfect fit and he touts the necessary skill set to make the game even easier for Embiid and Maxey while also smoothening the path for the club for what could be their most productive campaign yet.

Rival contender’s dumb mistake allowed the 76ers to get Paul George

In retrospect, though, Philly may not have had George had it not been for some supervening events. Like kismut, the 76ers eventually struck gold with the circumstances that allowed them to basically become the only tenable team to sign the nine-time All-Star.

But in addition to what has been already reported in the past, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne dropped a bomb yesterday, revealing that the Denver Nuggets were apparently also in the sweepstakes for George during the offseason.

According to Shelburne, the Nuggets ultimately flamed out thanks to their own doing. For some mind-numbing reason, they were not willing to include Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, and Peyton Watson in a return package slated to go to the Clippers for George. Naturally, LA turned any of their offers which revolved solely on salary matchers.

Of course, the Clippers would much prefer to take something back for George, which they were not able to do at all thanks to him resorting to free agency and signing with the 76ers. Had the Nuggets turned in a more reasonable offer, the path to Philly for the All-Star may not have been as lucid as it was.

The Nuggets are unexpectedly starting to implode, and their chance for redemption after a failed title defense last season seems strongly unripe for a comeuppance.

And without any reason to take pity for a rival, the Philadelphia 76ers will take the win.