The story of how the Philadelphia 76ers ended up signing Paul George is wild. It all started with a messy situation involving James Harden, a star player who was once the face of the 76ers.
Things went downhill fast when Harden demanded a trade and publicly called out the team’s president, Daryl Morey, for lying to him. As you can probably guess, this created a lot of negativity around the team, leaving many wondering what was next for the 76ers.
But what seemed like a disaster actually set the stage for one of the best moves in recent NBA history.
Daryl Morey, the 76ers’ President of Basketball Operations, recently explained in an interview on the 76ers’ YouTube channel how the Harden trade was the first step toward bringing Paul George to Philly.
It all began the previous offseason when Harden opted into his contract but then asked to be traded. Naturally, this forced the team to rethink its plan and figure out the best way forward if it had to trade Harden.
“At that point, we took a step back and said, ‘Okay, if we do trade James, what is the right plan?’ It was the route that we’ve gone that led to getting Paul,” Morey revealed.
The deal initially seemed disappointing when the 76ers traded Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. The players they got in return didn’t seem like much compared to Harden. But this move was all part of a bigger plan.
By freeing up salary cap space, the 76ers signed Paul George to a four-year, $212 million contract, carrying one of the NBA’s top players to Philadelphia.
Paul George, a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player brings the 76ers a wealth of talent and experience.
In his last five seasons with the LA Clippers, George proved he’s one of the best players in the league – he set a team record with 820 three-pointers.
While with the Clippers, George averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, showing he can do it all on the court.
With George joining a team that already has Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers have a real shot at winning the NBA title. There’s no question that George’s ability to play offense and defense makes him a perfect match with Embiid and Maxey.
Morey even said, “We’re thrilled to have Paul George on the 76ers. He’s a top player on both sides of the ball and fits perfectly with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.”
George was pumped about joining the team, saying, “I’m so excited to be part of this historic franchise with such passionate fans! I can’t wait to join this talented team and help bring a championship to Philadelphia!”
Looking at George’s stats, it’s clear why the 76ers are so excited. Last season, he played in 74 games and averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
He also hit career highs in shooting, making 47.1% of his shots from the field, 41.3% from three-point range, and 90.7% from the free-throw line. And these numbers show how consistent and reliable George is, especially when the pressure is on.
Throughout his 14 years in the NBA, George has scored 18,032 points, 5,465 rebounds, and 3,191 assists, making him one of only seven active players to achieve those numbers.
Not to mention, he’s also a sharpshooter, ranking 11th in NBA history with 2,253 career three-pointers and sixth among players still playing today.
Bringing in Paul George is a major win for the 76ers, and it shows that they’re serious about winning a championship.
With a core trio of George, Embiid, and Maxey, along with solid role players like Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson, the 76ers have built a deep and talented roster.
If the 76ers can turn all these offseason moves into a successful season and win the NBA championship, Daryl Morey’s strategy will go down as one of the best turnarounds in recent NBA history.
What was once a messy trade request and public drama might end up with a championship celebration in Philadelphia, with Paul George playing a major part in the 76ers’ victory.
