The Paul George experiment in Philadelphia has gotten off to as bad a start as one could expect. The Philadelphia 76ers are right outside of the playoff picture, with a 19-29 record on the season. Some of it has to do with injuries, while some blame also falls on their newest addition’s performance.
However, even with his limited production, the Sixers have been fielding calls about George from multiple teams, with two names, in particular, emerging as ones with a major interest in the aging star.
Paul George on the Move?
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey broke the news that the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors are among the teams with a vested interest in acquiring PG13 from Philly. Immediately, it feels like the Hawks’ move might be DOA.
The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are showing interest in Paul George, per @PompeyOnSixers pic.twitter.com/MwJoyFcLFH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 4, 2025
They are two spots ahead of Philadelphia in the standings, with three games separating the two sides. With Jalen Johnson out for the season with an injury, Atlanta’s wing depth is surprisingly lacking, but helping them out might not be in 76ers general manager Elton Brand and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s best interests.
Instead, the focus could then shift to Golden State. After a cracking start to their season, the Warriors have been in free fall and now sit as the 11th seed in the Western Conference. Prior to the season — and before the Sixers gave George a mind-blowing four-year, $212 million — Golden State was among the top teams trying to lure PG away from the Los Angeles Clippers.
With a plethora of picks and young talent at their disposal, a complete package might be enticing for the 76ers. After all, George is averaging the worst numbers of his career since his Most Improved Player campaign in 2013, when he first arrived on the scene as an All-Star selection.
For a Philadelphia team that desperately needs availability from its stars (George has missed 18 games on the season, while former MVP Joel Embiid has missed 35), getting some younger, lesser injury-risk players might be an intriguing option.
Additionally, a 34-year-old George is only going to get more expensive in the coming seasons as his age goes up, and subsequently, so does the chance of injury.
However, when playing together, the trio of George, Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey have a record of 7-3, which improves to 6-1 when they play the entire game. That includes an impressive road victory over the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Christmas Day.
It’s going to be tough for Morey to say no to a lucrative enough deal from the Warriors, who are in desperate need of a star and are contacting literally every All-Star-caliber player. However, if George is willing to stick it out, the upside everyone envisioned has to come to fruition at some point.
