Although the 76ers have one of the league's recognized top players, they always seem to struggle to cross that playoff hurdle.
The 76ers lost in the first round of last season's playoffs against the New York Knicks when their key player, Joel Embiid, apparently came into the game with an injury.
However, after another disappointing season, the Philadelphia 76ers managed to sign Paul George on the free market. The nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA All-Star George chose to join Philadelphia after a disappointing five-year spell in Los Angeles.
While George led the Clippers to a historic Western Conference Finals without Leonard in 2021, his career with the Clippers has been largely frustrating.
Clippers fans recall the combination of George and Leonard, and more of the embarrassing moment when they led 3-1 in the 2020 Western Conference semifinals only to be reversed by the Denver Nuggets. Injuries have prevented George and Leonard from reaching their highest potential.
Now, George has joined a team that has an era superstar but is in poor health.
Embiid, the 2023 MVP, is one of the greatest big men of NBA history. Embiid is as capable of scoring as anyone else, and is only the second center since Bob McAdoo to win back-to-back scoring titles (2021-2022 and 2022-2023).
In addition, the 30-year-old center scored a staggering 70 points against the Spurs last January, the highest score in a single game in 76ers history.
Still, Embiid is often criticized for not being able to stay healthy, especially during the playoffs. He only averaged 54.1 games per season. In addition, Embiid played in just 39 games last season, and while he returned in the 76ers' final five regular season and playoff games, he was clearly not at his best.
Embiid is most notorious for not even leading Philadelphia to the division finals once. He also didn't perform well against the Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals. This can't help but raise concerns, will the combination of Embiid and George repeat the mistakes of George and Leonard in Los Angeles?
What can George bring to the 76ers?
Compared to Tobias Harris, who has signed with the Pistons, Paul George is undoubtedly a major upgrade for the 76ers' forward line. Last season, George averaged 22.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and a career-high 41.3 percent from three-point range.
While George is no longer the top defender he once was, he's still strong enough on the defensive end to cause a lot of problems for the opposition's offensive core and provide necessary support to his teammates. George's experience and skill make every move he makes on the field a threat.
However, George, who has just turned 34, faces a double test of age and injury. He signed a four-year, $212 million max contract that ends at the age of 38.
In addition, frequent injuries have also left George missing many games. Prior to last season, George had just 53% attendance in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, playing just 87 games combined. Given George's injury history, it's still unknown whether he will be able to stay fit for the 15th season of his career.
However, George is a huge upgrade over Harris, as his overall impact on the court far surpasses Harris's. This begs the question: What role will George play in the 76ers? Is it as a second choice for the team, or as a third choice?
Who is the second choice for the 76ers?
Embiid is undoubtedly the first choice of the Philadelphia 76ers and the 76ers' signature star.
But when Embiid is sidelined with injury, who will step up and be the mainstay of the team? George is more famous, having led three teams to the division finals, and seems like a good choice. However, Tyrese Maxey is also a good reason to be the team's second choice.
Maxey just signed a five-year, $204 million max contract with the 76ers, a contract that is a testament to his importance on the team.
Last season, Maxey averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point range. In addition, Maxey won the Most Improved Player of the Year award, which not only cemented his position among the league's rising stars, but also showed his bright future.
In Embiid's absence, Maxey averaged 26.3 points and 5.6 assists per game, showing the temperament and ability of a leader. While Maxey's stats are impressive enough, the Philadelphia 76ers still lack a third player who can provide support in crunch time. George's arrival fills the void.
Maxi hasn't touched his ceiling yet, and his potential can be tapped a little more. And George is 34 years old and has a lot of injuries, so obviously he has reached his ceiling. Against this backdrop, it seems that Maxey should be the second choice for the 76ers after Embiid.
The 76ers' big gamble: Can George be the savior of Philadelphia?
Darryl Morey, president of the Philadelphia 76s, is known for his shrewdness in the NBA circles, and has his own unique insights and rich experience in building a championship team.
During his thirteen years with the Houston Rockets (2007 to 2020), Morey successfully recruited stars such as Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook to play alongside James Harden, the NBA's best quarterback at the time.
After moving to Philadelphia, Morey once again flexed his tactics in hopes of earning a spot for the 76ers in the increasingly competitive East. At present, the defending champion Celtics are firmly at the top of the league, and other teams have also increased their strength through recruitment and rookie development.
The Bucks are looking forward to a full return in full health, the Cavaliers offer Donovan Mitchell a contract with a maximum salary, the Knicks are in full swing under Jalen Brunson, and the young Indiana Pacers are getting their first taste of playoff success and are looking forward to going one step further in 2025.
Embiid is 30 years old, but his injury history raises questions about how long he can continue to play at his current high level. The management of the 76ers was also deeply concerned about this.
In this case, Philadelphia will have to make some bold moves and strengthen quickly to compete with the rest of the league's powerhouses. Bringing in Paul George at this time may seem a bit helpless, but if George can help the 76ers make a breakthrough in the playoffs and even let Embiid lift the O'Brien Cup, then this decision will be remembered as a historic and wise move.
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