Confirming a Monday report indicating that the Warriors inquired on Paul George, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer cites sources who say the Hawks have also expressed interest in the Sixers forward.
According to Pompey though, the expectation is that the 76ers would only consider moving George if they could get a “home-run deal.”
Philadelphia has been decimated by injuries this season, resulting in a 19-29 start. George has been limited to 30 appearances so far due to various health issues and has seen his production drop off when he’s been healthy. His 17.1 points per game represent his lowest mark since the 2011/12 season, while his 42.9% field goal percentage and 36.5% three-point percentage are below his career rates.
Given that George is in the first season of a four-year contract worth $211.6MM, those numbers are a cause for some concern. However, as Pompey points out, the club has gone 6-1 in the seven full games that George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey have played together and doesn’t seem to be in any rush to break up that trio, especially since they’re all on long-term contracts.
George has two more guaranteed years beyond this season, with a 2027/28 player option, while Embiid is locked up through at least 2028 and Maxey is under team control through 2029.
It doesn’t come as a shock that the Warriors checked in on George, since they also had trade interest in him last summer before he opted out of his contract with the Clippers.
The Hawks’ interest is a little more surprising, considering they’re a younger team, but George would theoretically make sense as an on-court fit alongside core players like Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. Atlanta also has some sizable contracts that could be used to match George’s $49.2MM cap hit, starting with Clint Capela ($22.3MM expiring), as well as De’Andre Hunter ($21.7MM) and/or Bogdan Bogdanovic ($17.3MM).
Go from a team with no chance to another with no chance. PG won’t make ATL a forsure playoff team.
Why on earth would Atlanta do this? But FWIW I think the fair offer would be Capella ($22M), Hunter $22M, and Kobe Bufkin ($4M) and the Lakers pick for the Hawks this year currently at 23. You might need to get a 3rd team involved I think though.
Trae
Daniels
PG13
Johnson
Okongwu
6th man Risacher
If I were the 76ers I would run to make a trade for Paul George. After this season, the 76ers will be paying George $51.6, $54.1 and $56.6 all guaranteed. Will be paying George until he is 37 years old.
Seems to be a strain of crazy going around in team front offices nowadays.
Morey is awful at his job and should be fired. I wouldn’t let him take the trash out at the Wells Fargo Center, let alone make any more franchise altering moves.
Rolls eyes
Go for it