Paul George has agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. George shot 45.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2023-24 and has ranked in the 90th percentile or better in steal rate 10 times throughout his 14-year career, as reported by Cleaning the Glass.
After months of speculation and increasingly firm reporting, Paul George agreed to join the Philadelphia 76ers during the early hours of Monday morning. George leaves the Los Angeles Clippers after five seasons with the franchise and will sign a four-year, $212 million max deal to become a Sixer. Despite being 34 years old, George is considered one of the best free agent acquisitions in Philadelphia’s history. He is a top-30ish player and will provide Joel Embiid with the most dangerous two-way wing play since Jimmy Butler’s brief stay five years ago, before Embiid reached MVP heights.
While Philadelphia has made significant additions by acquiring George, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon, and retaining Kelly Oubre Jr., there are still holes on the roster to address to maximize the potential of the Embiid-George-Tyrese Maxey trio. The team does have movable first-round picks to make further upgrades between now and the 2025 trade deadline.
George’s shooting capabilities are expected to have a major impact on the team. He is known for his off-ball shooting and has consistently maintained a high usage rate since the 2012-13 season. His ability to connect on catch-and-shoot threes as well as being a movement shooter will be key for the Sixers.
In terms of creating opportunities on offense, George has shown some decline but has still been efficient. He may not be the primary creator on the team, with that responsibility falling on Embiid and Maxey, but his scoring efficiency could help elevate the team’s offensive output.
The partnership between George and the Sixers will also bring changes to offensive usage, as Embiid and Maxey had high usage rates last season. George’s previous running mates, Leonard and Harden, had a higher combined usage rate, indicating a shift in responsibilities for George with the Sixers.
Overall, George’s signing brings a mix of excitement and questions about how he will fit into the team’s system and contribute to their success. His shooting, creating abilities, and offensive usage will be closely observed as the team progresses with him on board.
