The assumption around the NBA has been fairly easy to understand. The Celtics acquired Paul George in the Jaylen Brown trade, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they intend to keep him around.
Maybe we shouldn’t be so sure.
An NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that George still has considerably more value around the league than fans might think, despite his age, injury history and the roughly $110 million remaining on his contract over the next two seasons.
“The thing about Paul George that you have to remember is that he still can play,” the executive said. “Like, healthy and at his best, he can still play, he is a big wing, he can stretch the floor and handle the ball, he can play defense.”
George, 36, arrived in Boston as part of the blockbuster that sent Brown to the 76ers. Given where the Celtics are financially and George’s contract, it was reasonable to wonder whether president of basketball operations Brad Stevens might eventually flip him elsewhere.
The executive suggested that’s hardly a foregone conclusion.
“He is not the player he was 10 years ago, but he still has that rare skillset and if a player has that, he’s got value,” he told Deveney. “If he has that and he is on a short contract, that’s even more value.”
George certainly sounded like someone interested in sticking around at Celtics media day. The nine-time All-Star said he wished he’d arrived in Boston “a lot sooner” and added that he’s been “nothing but happy” since joining the organization.
None of that guarantees George finishes the season in Boston. February remains a long way off, and the Celtics have already demonstrated they’re willing to make enormous changes.
It does suggest we shouldn’t automatically treat George as an expensive contract they’re desperate to unload.
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