Paul George’s trajectory has been trending downward, and last year felt like rock bottom. He played 41 games with the Philadelphia 76ers and averaged just 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 43.0% from the field.
George returns healthy this season, though the narrative around him remains tough. He has become a go-to meme online, and the Oklahoma City Thunder winning a title with the haul from his trade only adds fuel to that storyline.
George maintains he still has a lot left to offer, but questions about his contract and health remain unavoidable. It does not look good for Philadelphia to be tied to another costly star with durability concerns, which is why Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has suggested a trade that sends the veteran star to Utah in exchange for a younger forward who could bring more stability to the Sixers’ future.
76ers receive: Lauri Markkanen
Jazz receive: Paul George, 2028 first-round pick (via LAC), 2028 second-round pick (via GSW), 2030 second-round pick (via WAS)
“With any kind of good fortune on the health front, a big three built around Embiid, Maxey and Markkanen should be a contender in this season’s watered-down East. And while that’s probably true with George, too, Markkanen would give Philly a longer runway and relieve some of the win-right-now pressure on its current core.
The Jazz may not view George as anything more than a means to an end: i.e., they’d be doing this deal for the picks. The Clippers and Warriors could both be messes by the time these selections convey, and the Wizards are a mess right now. And should Utah ever see enough encouragement from its young core to start wanting to build around it, it might matter that George’s contract runs one fewer season than Markkanen’s.”
