The LA Clippers lost Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, leaving them with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden as their star duo. While that’s a much better pairing of top-tier talent than many teams have, it remains to be seen whether Leonard, Harden, and a collection of role players will be enough to seriously compete in the Western Conference.
On Philadelphia’s side, George’s arrival also raises questions. While the nine-time All-Star was the NBA’s top free agent, Philadelphia will pay George $56.6 million at age 38.
This adds to the already high pressure Philadelphia is under to win now, as building a top-tier team will only become more difficult the further George commits to his contract.
Here’s the breakdown of Paul George’s contract in Philadelphia:
2024/25 – $49.2 million
2025/26 – $51.7 million
2026/27 – $54.1 million
2027/28 – $56.6 million
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2024
While signing George isn’t without risk for Philadelphia, a former NBA All-Star made a blunt statement about what he brings to Philadelphia that Harden didn’t.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s NBA Radio, 16-year NBA veteran Theo Ratliff said, “The one thing Paul George does that James Harden doesn’t do is play defense.”
How will Paul George fit in with the Philadelphia 76ers?
Former NBA center @shotblocker42 tell @Jumpshot8 And @Mitch_Lawrence PG13 has exactly the mindset and skillset the Sixers need. pic.twitter.com/V5i6OGIVWa
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) August 24, 2024
Harden’s defense has come and gone during his first year with the Clippers, with the 34-year-old former MVP showing signs of ability in that regard during stretches of games while struggling to contain the ball in others.
George’s defense saw similar fluctuations last season, with the four-time All-Defensive forward particularly struggling to stay out of foul trouble.
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