PAUL GEoRGE (PHI)

Baro Notes:

• Paul George to Philly is a game changer in East; big 3 w/ a bonafide MVP (J. Embiid) & a star, (efficient) guard playmaker (their games don’t get in each other’s way)

• Projected Starters: T. Maxey-K. Oubre Jr.-P. George-?-Embiid

Look, that’s a dope four - Nick Nurse just needs to plug in the “right” fifth man and keep him there the entire season. By any means, Nurse must avoid a scenario that leads him to shuffling his 5th starter - players could fall out of rhythm and the team could eventually fail to reach its potential.

Ideally, Philly starts a traditional power forward with that group. Otherwise, George would slide in as a small ball four and someone like rookie Jared McCain could space the floor. There’s a few different ways to play it. If Philly blends size w/ its newfound versatility on the wing, it could go a long way. Plus, adding interior support for Embiid doesn’t hurt either.

And don’t be fooled: Paul George is still a go-to guy. There’s a lot of steps to climb, but the Sixers could finally make a title push in 2025.