Paul George, 76ers is a perfect marriage of desperation
Forward Paul George.
Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year deal, embarking on a marriage of desperation between superstar and franchise. This partnership will pair the nine-time All-Star with former MVP Joel Embiid and rising star Tyreese Maxey.
ESPN's NBA Front Office Insider Bobby Marks believes Philadelphia's new "Big 3" instantly makes the 76ers a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.
"They have the highest ceiling in the league now but the Boston Celtics. And they can go toe-to-toe with the Celtics now," said Marks on ESPN's Get Up Monday morning.
George's contact with the 76ers is reportedly worth $212 million. And while giving a max deal to a 34-year-old with a substantial injury history is a big risk, it's a risk the 76ers needed to take.
Why the 76ers need Paul George
Despite being a perennial contender, the 76ers are still in search of the franchise's first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since Allen Iverson led Philadelphia to the 2001 NBA Finals. That's currently 23 years without advancing beyond the second round. The 76ers are even on the heels of a first round exit in 2024.
So not only are the 76ers looking to snap a drought - one that extends to 1983 for their last championship - they need to seize the day on doing it with Embiid. The one-time MVP, now 30, has never played a full NBA season and only appeared in 39 games this past season.
In addition to having an MVP to his credit, Embiid is a seven-time All-Star and a two-time scoring champion. He has a resume already worthy of the Basketball Hall of Fame. However, he has been vocal about wanting to win a championship. Regardless of Embiid's heroics, he hasn't been able to lead the 76ers deep through the playoffs. The closest Embiid and the 76ers have been to a conference finals came in 2019 - they watched Kawhi Leonard hit a series-winning shot for Toronto in Game 7 of the conference semifinals, sending the Raptors on an eventual title.
From that point on, Embiid and the 76ers have endured bad divorces, most notably with Ben Simmons and James Harden. Philadelphia even had to watch Jimmy Butler leave town and guide the Heat to multiple NBA Finals trips. Not knowing how much more time Embiid has, there's a sense of urgency for the 76ers.
Why Paul George needs the 76ers
Even though George grew up in Los Angeles, he made the right decision to leave his hometown and move east. Not only did the 76ers agree to give him a fourth year, but this is George's last chance to pursue a title of his own.
Unlike Embiid and the 76ers, George has been close to reaching the NBA Finals - he's appeared in three conference finals in his career. But he's 0-3 and is also still looking to soak up the NBA Finals limelight for the first time.
George is coming off one of his most productive seasons. He averaged 22.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while playing in 74 games, his highest total since 2018. It's clear George still has plenty left in the tank, but at the same time, it's clear the 76ers and the NBA veteran are both desperate when it comes to capturing that elusive championship. A title would restore glory to a historic franchise and solidify George's place in league history.
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