The Hawks reportedly have inquired with the 76ers about Paul George’s availability before Thursday’s trade deadline. Acquiring George might have been a good idea when back when he was a top-15 player. It’s not a good idea now. George is having his worst season since he established himself as a star, right after signing a maximum contract with the Sixers.
Keith Pompeo of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Hawks and Warriors have “expressed interest” in George. Normally, it’s difficult to evaluate speculative deals without knowing what is being offered. In this case, it doesn’t really matter what the Hawks would have to give up for George. He comes with too much injury and financial obligation for them to give up anything at all.
George has played in more than 60 games only once in the past five seasons. He’s played in 30 of Philadelphia’s 48 games this season. Georgia is owed $51.7 million next season and $54.1 million in 2026-27. George can exercise an option for $56.6 million in 2027-28, when he’ll be 37 years old. Adding him to the roster would mean a risk of paying a lot of money to a declining player over the next three years.
I get why the Hawks apparently are considering making an offer for George despite those risks. He would meet the goal of pairing Trae Young with another high-level talent. Let’s assume George’s recent struggles are related to injuries and that he’ll have better health in the future. If that’s the case, then he would join the Hawks as no worse than their third-best player behind Young and Jalen Johnson.
The Hawks would benefit from George’s shooting (career 38.4% on 3-pointers), size (big wing or big-enough power forward), defense and passing. George’s experience would be helpful, too. He’s played in 114 career playoff games. George is an excellent all-around player when he’s at his best.
But George soon will be on the other side of 35. If the Hawks trade for him, maybe they could get some draft picks and young players out of the deal to mitigate the risks. Still, adding George’s contract and an extension for Young to the books would make it difficult for the Hawks to do much else to improve the roster with experienced players. They would end up committing roughly 80% of their player payroll to Young, Paul and Jalen Johnson.
Is that Big 3 capable of finally breaking the Hawks free from the bounds of mediocrity and making them an outfit that can seriously challenge the Celtics in the East? Maybe so, if enough other things break right for them. I wouldn’t bet on it, though.
Anyway, the speculation could end up being moot. Pompeo notes that Philadelphia’s Big 3 of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have played only 10 games together because of injuries suffered by George and Embiid. Because of that, Pompeo writes that the Sixers are unlikely to give up George so soon “unless they’re offered something they’d be foolish to refuse.”
The Hawks shouldn’t be the team making that offer. I like that they are apparently looking into trading for another good player instead of cutting losses. I just don’t think that player should be George.
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