The Boston Celtics' recent trade of Jaylen Brown has sparked speculation about their next move, particularly regarding Paul George. While the trade itself was a surprising move, the article focuses on exploring potential trade options for George, considering his contract, injury history, and on-court performance.
George, a 36-year-old NBA player, is set to make $57.7 million next season, with a trade kicker that could increase his salary further. His injury history is a significant concern, as he has only played in 60 or more games once since the 2018-19 season. Despite his recent suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy, George's on-court performance is still considered solid, with averages of 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 steals last season.
However, the article highlights the challenge of trading George due to his age, injury history, and contract. The Celtics' lack of a secondary trade in mind when trading Brown suggests that they may not have a specific plan for George either. The article speculates that George will likely remain on the roster, starting alongside Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Jayson Tatum.
One potential trade option discussed is sending George and a significant amount of draft capital to the New Orleans Pelicans for Trey Murphy III and one of Dejounte Murray or Jordan Poole. While this deal could work financially, it would require the Celtics to include valuable draft picks, including their first-rounders acquired in the trade with Philadelphia. The article concludes by emphasizing the speculative nature of these trade ideas and the challenges of trading an aging, injury-prone player like George.
