The Sixers just got absolutely smacked by the Celtics’ regulars last Saturday in a preseason game, and yeah, they were shorthanded. But honestly, for a lot of Philly fans, the real drama right now isn’t just about Jaylen Brown’s debut; it’s about the guy who went the other way in the biggest trade of the NBA offseason: Paul George. Fans are hyped for Brown, sure, but what about the player they jettisoned? His two years in Philadelphia were, by almost every objective measure, a total failure, and fans were united in their pure jubilation not only to bring in Brown but to wash their hands of the final two years of George’s massive contract.
The Philly Experiment That Went Sideways
George was the Sixers’ marquee offseason signing just two years ago in the summer of 2024, remember that? Talk about rolling the dice! Most fans knew former President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey was doing just that when he emptied out all that cap space from Tobias Harris’s expired contract and dropped it all on an aging George. And let’s be real, availability was a concern for George even before he showed up in Philly, so no one should’ve been shocked when he wasn’t always in the lineup. His performance definitely dipped big time, too. His first season in Philly was a disaster, and his second? Not much better until the playoffs, where he *did* likely rebuild some of his trade value with a strong postseason. But for many fans, the frustration with George was just a symptom of a larger problem they had with Morey’s whole operation.
Paul George’s Message From Boston
But here’s the kicker, something that got a bit buried after Saturday’s loss and maybe got lost in all the Eagles and Flyers losing on Sunday: Paul George actually had some pretty surprising things to say about his time in Philadelphia. He straight up said, “I love those guys…Jo, Tyrese, VJ, JE. I think these long-lasting relationships that you build along the way of this journey here. VJ calls me almost every other week.” Wait, what? This dude really left on good terms with a bunch of players in the organization. It makes you wonder how he’s gonna get greeted when he plays a regular season game in Philadelphia this season, right? Was he really the main source of frustration for the fans, or was it more about Morey? Regardless, any Sixers fan who boos George when the Celtics come to town absolutely has every right to do so.
The Sixers will host the Celtics again this coming Friday for the preseason finale. George is gone, and more importantly for a lot of fans, so is Morey. It feels like the focus has totally shifted to the Knicks now as the biggest rival, with both teams probably gonna be duking it out for the Eastern Conference championship this season. We’ll see if the Celtics can contend, but the biggest question for the Sixers might just be how they move on from a player who felt like a misstep, even if he still cherishes the locker room bonds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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