If there’s a preseason award for the team which had the best offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers would definitely get the trophy for this year. In the aftermath of a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, the franchise exhausted all options available to them, culminating in what’s easily the best summer slate out of any franchise.
Then armed with the most robust cap space in the association, the 76ers front office intentionally approached free agency with reckless abandon, yielding them a nine-time All-Star in Paul George alongside some nice, win-now veterans who stand to bolster their resounding goal to win a championship this season.
George’s addition, in particular, was widely praised as perhaps the best move of the offseason. Now, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have a high-end third fiddle whose skill set proprounds a perfect on-court symphony. If all goes well, Philly could be slated for a championship parade next year.
However, it seems like not everyone is convinced about the move paying dividends for the franchise later on, at least impliedly.
Norman Powell implies the 76ers made a huge miscalculation with Paul George
George, previously pegged as a near-lock to remain in LA, his home city, shocked everyone when he and the Clippers failed to reach a pact, resulting in him basically getting handcuffed into signing with Philly.
Asked about the move, Clippers wing Norman Powell put on quite the dismissive cloak, saying that what transpired was basically an addition by subtraction that should bode well for them.
Norman Powell on the Clippers losing Paul George:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) September 30, 2024
“I saw it as addition by subtraction. More guys getting opportunities, including myself…”
By implication, Powell seems to have insinuated that George is a sap-sipper, a puzzling notion given that last season, the nine-time All-Star turned in career-highs across the board despite fewer on-ball reps and mostly settling for an off-ball role with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard handling the propellers.
Would this assertion point to the 76ers having actually made a subtraction by addition? As of now, that’s highly unlikely. George himself has repeatedly made mention of his willingness to settle for a smaller role with the team,
Alas, as mentioned, George’s skill set is not heavily dependent on having the ball in his hands. He’s been an elite, high-volume three-point shooter for almost decade now –– a sought-after feature of his game that would only complement both Embiid and Maxey.
No offense to Powell, but I call bluff on his remarks. The Clippers are absolutely worse without Paul George, and the Philadelphia 76ers are better with him. It’s that simple.
Sorry.