Almost since the day that Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia for Paul George and draft picks, the assumption was that PG was simply the best available matching salary and that he’d be an ideal salary-matching piece as an expiring contract next summer when the Celtics can go chase their next big star.
And maybe that’s true. I’m sure it’s at least something the team is strongly considering. But it’s far from a certainty.
The team clearly coveted George more than anyone imagined, and they think he can be a really good fit in this system. We all know that he’s past his prime and has struggled to stay on the court in recent years, but as we just saw in the playoffs, he can still be an extremely impactful player.
Boston is hoping that they can manage his minutes and role to keep him fresh and healthy and that he’ll fit in perfectly in a predominantly off-ball role. He can focus on three-point shooting, defense, and some secondary creation, which should allow us to see him thrive in Joe Mazzulla’s system.
And if this does work out as well as it looks like it could on paper, then the Celtics should feel no urgency to trade George. Is he going to be a second superstar next to Jayson Tatum? Almost certainly not. Is he going to live up to the $110+ million he’s set to make in the next two seasons? Almost certainly not.
Paul George could be exactly what the Celtics need on both ends
But can he be an ideal suped-up role player for a team that’s already in position to compete? Absolutely. And if that happens, this could be a much longer marriage than anyone expects. He has already shown a willingness and desire to be here by waiving his trade kicker to save the Celtics a few bucks. Maybe he’d even consider declining his $56+ million player option for next season to rework a longer, cheaper deal.
And even if not, he may play out these next two years and stay with the team as a veteran leader and role player who can still play a very important role, almost like a wing version of what Al Horford did for the team over his last few years in Boston. It’s really not that crazy. And despite his age and injury history, there’s clearly more in the tank.
George has accomplished quite a lot in his NBA career and will almost certainly be in the Hall of Fame one day, but a championship has eluded him. Perhaps now he’s ready to sacrifice, to buy in, and to accept his role in a way that can impact winning for several more years to come.Â
That would be great for George and great for the Celtics. It would also make Brad Stevens’ job a heck of a lot easier. If the right star trade becomes available, then by all means, they should still pounce. But if not, and things are working out well with PG-13, then maybe he ends up being the final missing piece for this roster after all.
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