The Boston Celtics' decision to trade Jaylen Brown for Paul George is still something I (and apparently 95% of the world) haven't fully figured out. But a lot of the discourse I've seen online has revolved around the same general ideas: George is 100 years old and broken down, it was ridiculous to trade Brown to a divisional rival (one that just beat you in the playoffs, no less), George is better off just being rerouted at this point, and his contract is disgusting.
But if you take the emotion out of the trade and just look at the 36-year-old's fit in Boston, assuming he sticks around, there's actually a lot to like about what he could bring to the team.
Don't get it twisted, even after letting it process for a few days, I still think this trade is going to backfire against the Celtics. I still think their championship window is closed. And I'm still upset the Jays aren't going to play their whole careers together in Boston.
But once you go a little bit beyond the surface, you start to realize that maybe there are reasons to be "excited" about George with the Celtics, especially if they're serious about being contenders.
Paul George is fresh off a resurgence, can fit nicely next to Jayson Tatum
It was only a couple of months ago that the Fresno State alum directly played a hand in the Celtics' shocking playoff collapse. He turned back the clock and looked like the old PG13, averaging 17.4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.4 steals on 48.9/55/77.8% shooting splits (as Philadelphia's third our fourth option) while playing great defense.
And that was after he averaged 21 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals on 47.2/41.5/74.3% shooting splits in his 10 games after returning from his suspension.
He came back down to earth in the second round against the eventual champion New York Knicks, but George proved he's still got it. And on top of that, he knows how to play the sidekick role.
During his time with the 76ers, especially last season, George took a step back and let Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid run the show at times. And he did a fantastic job of just filling in the margins and using some of that extra energy on the defensive side of the ball, as a catch-and-shooter, and as a connector on offense.
After Boston traded Brown, this team is unquestionably Tatum's now. And he's going to need to be surrounded by players who can complement his game, not clash with it. From what we've seen, George can do exactly that at a high level.
Yes, his contract is bad (he has a $56.6 million player option for the 2027-28 season), and he might only play 30 games next season. But George isn't a bum, and in theory, he could elevate Tatum's game and contribute in every area of the game.
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