Marcus Hayes: Even if Paul George was the Sixers' best option, that doesn't mean it was a smart move
Published in Basketball
PHILADELPHIA — Maybe it’s a Harden hangover.
Maybe it’s the fact that nearly $900 million worth of 30-something Phillies either are injured or are nursing injuries: Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Taijuan Walker.
Maybe it’s just that I never thought Paul George was all that good.
Whatever it is, the fact that the Sixers gave him $212 million over four years at the overripe age of 34, with a track record of consistent injury, just doesn’t sit well.
I hope I’m wrong. Really. The sports books think so: The Sixers’ odds to win the championship went from around No. 6 to No. 2 in just a few hours Monday morning.
It would be nice to finally have a viable 1-A player alongside Joel Embiid, whose legacy is trending toward Charles Barkley’s unfulfilled expectations. Bless his heart, Tyrese Maxey is not a 1-A; until he becomes a much better defender and passer, he’ll always remain No. 2.
The best news: George is coming off his most productive and healthiest season in half a decade. That’s good-ish news, right?
The weird part: Nobody thinks this would be a good idea for, say, James Harden, who was an aged disappointment for the Sixers for a season and a half. Harden is just a few months older than George, and has been markedly healthier.
Think about that.
This is, after all, the franchise that acquired post-prime Chris Webber, post-prime Dikembe Mutombo and post-prime Derrick Coleman. Twice.
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