Paul George will soon have a restriction lifted. The Celtics acquired him on Jul. 6. On Sep. 6, two months after that deal became official, Boston can aggregate his salary with other contracts to facilitate a trade.
One can't rule out a blockbuster trade -- such as the C's landing Stephen Curry, a development his former teammate D'Angelo Russell would love to see. However, the reality is, George getting rerouted seems highly unlikely.
It's nice to have optionality, but frankly it would come as a shock if the nine-time All-Star isn't on Boston's roster to start the season.
Paul George is an excellent fit with the Celtics
The six-time All-NBA selection is tailor-made for Joe Mazzulla's system.
Offensively, George is a turnover-suppressor. That's a significant skill that will help his new team win on the margins. He is also a sterling example of how well this roster complements its star, Jayson Tatum.
The 16-year veteran is an outstanding kickout option. He buried 41.7 percent of the 4.5 catch-and-shoot 3s he launched last season, per NBA Stats.
George also remains an effective iso scorer. That will help when he's in without Tatum. It will also make life easier when they're on the floor together.
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And defensively, even at 36, he remains a disruptive perimeter defender. Boston experienced that in the first round of the playoffs. He was excellent when tasked with guarding Tatum and Jaylen Brown in that series.
The Celtics have to keep George fresh, but he's a great fit in this system and can help this team contend for a top seed in the East.
Paul George is also a valuable trade chip for the Celtics
With all of that said, there's an inescapable reality here. The former 10th overall draft pick is on Boston's books for $54 million this season. He has a $56.6 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. That is particularly useful for Brad Stevens to have at his disposal.
George's lucrative contract gives the Celtics' president of basketball operations a sizeable salary that can help facilitate a trade for a new star running mate for Tatum.
Who that is and whether the organization goes in that direction is anyone's guess. However, they will have likely reset the repeater tax at the end of this league year. That paves the way for them to set off summer fireworks.
Making that happen will require an attractive trade package. For that, Boston can offer an enticing blend of draft capital and young talent. George's value is that his salary can help two sides that want to complete a trade get it across the finish line.
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