Summer's Biggest Free Agent: Paul George
This summer, assuming LeBron James remains with the Lakers, the most significant free agent on the market is undoubtedly Paul George. An unrestricted free agent, George has the liberty to join any team that can accommodate his contract, either through cap space or a sign-and-trade deal with the Clippers if George signals his intention to leave.
76ers’ Ambitions
The Philadelphia 76ers have made it no secret that George is their primary target, and conveniently, they have the necessary max salary-cap space to sign him. In May, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Clippers are not willing to offer George more than the three-year, $152.3 million extension they gave to Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers can indeed offer George his full max of $221 million over four years, but if they choose not to, and the 76ers are ready with that offer, one must ponder: would George leave Los Angeles for a championship shot alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey?
On his podcast, George emphasized that his priority is playing the "right style of basketball." Interestingly, he did not expand on what he means by this term. Not surprisingly, George didn't disclose any clear intentions regarding his summer decisions. That quote was his final remark before the podcast signed off.
Right Style of Play
Kevin Durant highlighted that he chose the Warriors because of their ball and player movement system, a style unique at the time in the NBA. In general, teams can be categorized into two groups based on their style of play: those that move the ball and those with a more heliocentric approach, where the focus is on high-usage stars like Luka Doncic or Trae Young.
George, who previously played with James Harden on the Clippers, is no longer in the prime of his career where he can dominate the ball entirely. For a player of George's caliber and age, it is understandable that he might not want to stand around waiting for stars like Luka or Trae to pass him the ball with only a few seconds left on the shot clock.
Which Teams Play the "Right" Style?
With various teams in contention for George's services, it is crucial to evaluate their playing styles. George seems content with the Clippers’ approach. The 76ers, under the guidance of Nick Nurse, adopt a faster tempo and pace, centering their gameplay around Embiid as a hub and Maxey as an aggressive attacker. The Orlando Magic, on the other hand, lack a definitive offensive identity and would likely tailor their offense around George.
While George insists he is not fixated on winning a championship, it is unlikely that he would leave the Clippers for teams like the Magic or the Houston Rockets. George has pointed out the Celtics' tenacity due to their defensive prowess and ability to switch roles seamlessly. This indicates that he is equally concerned with the defensive makeup of potential teams.
If we add George's offensive capabilities to a team like Orlando, they might instantly become more appealing. While it is tempting to narrow down his options to teams with cap space, it is worth noting that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Despite his vague statement about chasing the "right style of basketball," George did not clarify what this entails. His expression, "I want to play the right way," could easily be interpreted as saying nothing substantial at all.
Quotes
Here are some notable quotes from the discussions surrounding George's free agency:
- "At this point, I’m not even necessarily, this is not even about -- people say chasing a championship, it’s not that. It’s playing the right style of basketball is what I’m chasing." – Paul George
- "What team doesn’t play the right style of basketball according to its personnel?" – Anonymous
- "I want to play the right way." – Paul George
- "In May, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reported that the Clippers are unwilling to offer George more than the three-year, $152.3 million extension they gave to Kawhi Leonard."
- "Kevin Durant said he went to the Warriors because he wanted to play in their ball and player movement system, which, at the time, was an entirely different system from that of pretty much any other team in the NBA."
As we await the next chapter in Paul George's career, his decision this summer will undeniably shape the future of the NBA landscape.