The Philadelphia 76ers put Paul George on notice after jumping up to third overall in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. Ace Bailey is projected to be the selection. The 18-year-old is an elite scorer and athlete with superstar upside. It opens the door for Morey to trade the pick with George for a star upgrade or for Bailey to take PG13’s spot if the nine-time All-Star does not improve.
It was a nightmare season for the Sixers. They had championship dreams after signing George, but could not stay healthy. Things went from bad to worse as they tanked down the stretch to keep this draft pick. It got them a top-three selection and puts even more pressure on PG.
It was a nightmare season for George after a decade of All-Star play. There are serious questions about how the 35-year-old bounces back. He just finished the first season of a four-year max contract and looks massively overpaid. That could open the door for Bailey to take over.
Ace Bailey puts Paul George immediately on notice
George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals in 32.5 minutes per game over 41 contests. He shot just 43.0 percent from the field and 35.8 percent on his 3-point attempts during his first season in Philly. George had a career-low value over replacement player (VORP) and win shares per 48 minutes. He may just no longer be a star.
Bailey would not be the first teenager with immense upside to immediately play the best basketball of his career in the NBA. The teenager is a tough shot-maker and could make the Sixers unstoppable with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey flanking him. Would George be comfortable as a defender and floor spacer? It is unlikely for the nine-time All-Star.
Drafting Ace Bailey could be the best thing for George. It may motivate him to outshine the rookie and keep his position. Things could go the other way for the 35-year-old too. He is certainly on notice as many expect Bailey to be an All-Star.
Is it a battle or are they both locked in on the wings in Philly? The 76ers have too many mouths to feed on offense and somebody won’t be happy. If Embiid is healthy, the former MVP and Maxey will be the top options. That leaves Bailey versus George to be their number three scorer.
The Philadelphia 76ers luckily jumped into the top three on Monday night. It was a massive boost to a struggling franchise with several questions. Can Paul George outshine Ace Bailey to remain one of the Sixers’ Big 3? The pressure is already on, and Philly hasn’t even selected the teenager yet.