George: ‘I think Philly was number one for the majority of free agency’

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers introduced Paul George to the media. In addition, Tyrese Maxey joined George after signing an extension with the team.

George, who signed with the 76ers after spending five seasons with the Clippers, reportedly agreed to a four-year, $212 million maximum contract, which includes a player option, while Maxey reportedly signed a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension with the team.

With Joel Embiid, George, and Maxey, Philly has formed a “Big 3” that should be a championship contender next season and beyond.

The 34-year-old George likes the fit with the 76ers, and where the team is headed, so he decided to sign with them.

“I think Philly was number one for the majority of free agency,” he said. “Obviously, there were other teams in play that I was contemplating, but Philly was number one because it kind of fit my game, it fit where I was at in my career, and like I said, it fit the trajectory that the team was going.”

George does fit in with the 76ers, and while Tobias Harris, who moved to the Pistons was solid, he’s not as good as George. Last season, the 14-year veteran played in 74 games (all starts), averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals (sixth in NBA) per game.

For Maxey, he delayed signing his max extension for a year, which helped the 76ers create cap room to sign George. Maxey trusted that the 76ers would do right by him, and they did.

“I really trusted them because they took a chance on me,” Maxey said. “Honestly, like, every situation is different.  I was very thankful for that opportunity they gave me. To come here, and play for a championship-caliber team early on in my career, taking me at 21(pick in 2020 draft), when I feel like I slipped in the draft, feel like I could have gone higher, but I feel like I’ve found a home here, and this is a great place for me. I understood what the end goal was.”

Maxey, who made the All-Star team for the first time in his four-year career and averaged a career-high 25.9 points, along with career-best marks in rebounds (3.7), assists (6.2), and steals (1.0), believes George brings a lot to the table.

“With Paul being able to spot up and knock down threes, that’s one of the biggest things you have to be able to do playing on the floor with Joel(Embiid),” Maxey said. “That, and the ability to be able to create for himself, create off of Joel. Then, he’s 6’8, 6’9. A guy who can guard multiple positions, and I think he just brings an overall different aspect of the game for us.”

With Embiid and Maxey, the 76ers, who lost to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs last season, has yet to make it past the second round. With the addition of another All-Star in George, they hope to make a deep playoff run, and George believes it can happen.

“I think we got a real legitimate shot,” George said. “I’ve always been a fan of Tyrese and Joel from afar, and Joel has secretly been one of my closest All-Star Game friends, and so, it kind of felt inevitable that at some point we would link up and be teammates.”

It’s now or never for the 76ers. This is probably the best roster surrounding the 30-year-old Embiid in his career. They signed George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Reggie Jackson and re-signed Kelly Oubre, K.J. Martin, and Kyle Lowry. 

In reality, part of Philadelphia’s issue is Embiid’s health. He wasn’t healthy in the playoffs last season and has not been healthy in the playoffs in the past. Unfortunately, if he’s not healthy again next season, bringing in George won’t matter, but for now, it’s happy times in Philly!