Philadelphia landed one of its most notable free agents by agreeing to terms with now-former Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George on a four-year, $212 million contract. This is the most influential free agent signing in the franchise’s 75-year history. Sixers fans should be excited about the Big Three of George, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
Philadelphia’s New “Big Three” Challenge
But the last two championship teams (Denver and Boston) were built on the belief that the era of the Big Three was over. Welcome to the era of the Big Five. Now more than ever, the NBA has become a battle of attrition, with injuries determining the postseason. And you can’t rely on just three players to survive this. While everyone was discussing how Boston’s Big Two of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would stack up against the rest of the league’s star duos, Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office were busy building the Big Five. And they built it.
Who May Be the Big Five?
In today’s NBA, two and three stars may not be enough. In addition, not all teams are able to retain star players on their roster. The Celtics were able to time their signings and extensions perfectly to keep their current (championship) team for a few more years. Can Philadelphia compete for the title of best team in the East? George, Maxey and Embiid could well be considered the new “Big Three” in the league. George could fit well with the talents of Maxey and Embiid, complementing their skills with two-way productivity and team growth potential. On paper, the Sixers have everything they need.
Age and Playoff History: The Sixers’ Hurdles
However, the Milwaukee Bucks were also paper champions last season. Just like Phoenix was one of the favorites of the West. As a result, the teams were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. On paper, the current Sixers look as formidable as any of Embiid’s previous integrations with other stars. He is now joined by George, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond. But don’t forget that Paul is already 34 years old. Gordon is 35 years old. Drummond never made it past the first round of the playoffs in 12 seasons in the league. Embiid performed better than Drummond but didn’t advance past the second round in the postseason. Also not the most outstanding indicator.
The Injury Factor: Embiid and George
One reason for this is that Embiid’s body often can’t handle the distance. In seven postseasons with the Sixers, Joel played in every team playoff game just twice. Both times, Philadelphia was eliminated in the first round. It could be said that George left one injury-plagued superstar partnership for another. In five seasons with the Clippers, Paul and Kawhi Leonard played in just 26 of 43 playoff games together.
Playoff Absences: A Recurring Theme
The above numbers do not take into account the 2022-23 season, in which the Clippers missed the playoffs altogether, due in large part to Leonard missing the season with a torn ACL and George missing 51 of the team’s 82 games due to elbow injuries.
On paper, the pair of Lenard and George were considered permanent contenders for the title. The reality was completely different. On average, the duo of Kawhi and Paul played just 5.2 games together each playoff season. Sports fans often turn to platforms like Dafabet to place bets on their favorite teams. By accessing the Dafabet login, they can stay updated on the latest odds and enjoy a seamless betting experience.
Philadelphia’s Gamble: Health and Performance
As previously reported, George and Lenard played 26 playoff games together over five seasons. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns played 27 games. But here’s the crazy part: When Kawhi and Paul teamed up in the summer of 2019, Edwards was still five months away from making his debut at the University of Georgia.
George and the Sixers are hoping Paul will have better luck playing next to Embiid, but he has had as many injuries as Kawhi. Philadelphia can only hope that the duo can remain healthy and effective.
Morey’s Strategy and the Future
Daryl Morey, the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, has an established penchant for hunting big in the star market and knows how to work it. In addition, he will have two first-round draft picks (2025 and 2027) and a trade of first-round picks (2029) that he can use in negotiations to acquire another star. But this can also become a problem. If Morey gets another star, the question is whether George will be happy about it. The Clippers acquired James Harden and Russell Westbrook to bolster their roster around George and Kawhi. A few months later, he arranged his departure from Los Angeles. The Sixers are hoping things will be different this time, but who knows.
A Trade with Potential, But Is It Enough?
Either way, Philadelphia is in a better position than it was before the free agent market opened. Essentially, the Sixers traded a disgruntled Harden for George, two first-round draft picks and a first-round trade after an eight-month delay. It is a good deal. But does it give a real chance for the championship? If the goal is to reach the Eastern Conference finals, Philadelphia has a great chance of achieving it. But if the goal is to win a championship, the Sixers’ front office needs to keep working. Five is more than three.
