The Philadelphia Sixers thought they won the 2024 offseason when they signed Paul George to a four-year, $212 million deal. A lot of people (even non-Sixers fans) felt the same. ESPN's Kevin Pelton certainly did, giving the Sixers an 'A' grade. A lot has changed since then.
Pelton re-graded the biggest deals from last offseason, including the George signing. Philadelphia went from passing with flying colors, to getting a 'D.' The sad thing is that you can argue that it should've been re-graded as an 'F.'
Before two weeks ago, you could've argued that the George signing didn't deserve the lowest grade possible, but only because he could've had a bounceback season in 2025-26. While that could still happen, the news that he had surgery on his knee after getting injured during a workout lowered the chances of that happening.
George will be re-evaluated before training camp, so he may or may not be ready in time for the start of the season. If he misses the season-opener, that'd mark the second consecutive year, which is as long as he's been in Philly.
His contract doesn't do the Sixers any favors, either. The front office can't blame anyone but themselves for that.
Paul George signing is aging even worse than imagined for Sixers
Injuries weren't the only thing that derailed George's first season with the Sixers. His production was down big-time compared to his final season in Los Angeles. He averaged 16.2 points per game on 43% shooting from the field and 35.8% from three this past season. George averaged 22.6 points per game for the Clippers in 2023-24, shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.3% from deep.
George's production (and games played) tricked people into believing that the transition to Philadelphia would be relatively smooth. Even the biggest Sixers haters didn't think George and Philly would have such a disastrous 2024-25 season.
There wasn't much reason to be hopeful before George had surgery, and there certainly isn't any reason now. He isn't getting any younger. Believe it or not, but it might actually get worse than what fans were forced to witness last season.
It'd take a miracle for George to live up to the value of his contract. He'll make a measly $56.7 million next season. The final season on his contract is a $56.6 million player option in 2027-28. No big deal, right?
ESPN was too kind. The front office deserves nothing less than an 'F.'