“The previous three have led to what?” - Brian Windhorst disapproves of the notion of Paul George making the 76ers a formidable team

There’s no denying that Paul George was one of the most sought-after free agents in the 2024 summer market. Ever since he signed a four-year, $212 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers , many believe that the Sixers have become one of the most competitive teams vying for the championships in the East.

However, Brian Windhorst has expressed skepticism about this notion, pointing out that despite PG13’s high-profile status, he has never single-handedly altered the trajectory of an NBA team.

Windhorst on George to Philly

Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Windhorst acknowledged that PG13’s move to the 76ers is indeed one of the biggest moves this summer. However, he drew parallels to George’s 2017 trade from the Indiana Pacers to the OKC Thunder, where expectations were high, yet the nine-time All-Star failed to lead the team past the first round in the playoffs in two years.

The 46-year-old NBA analyst then highlighted George’s move to the LA Clippers in 2019 - which is arguably the greatest trade package in the modern-day NBA. In exchange for Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, 2021 first-round pick (that became Tre Mann), 2022 first-round pick (that became Jalen Williams), 2023 first-round pick (that became Jaime Jaquez Jr.), 2025 first-round pick swap, 2023 first-round pick swap, 2024 first-round draft pick, and 2026 first-round pick, the Clippers received only George, yet despite all the faith shown in the world for him, he was able to lead the franchise past the second round merely once (in 2021) in five years.

Given this history, Windhorst finds it difficult to believe that the 2013 Most Improved Player, at the age of 34, can be a game-changing acquisition for the 76ers.

"Historically, we see teams; when they hollow out their roster to create a big three, they always need more time to backfill that roster... I'm just, I'm tired of sitting here the first week of July and declaring that a Paul George arrival changes everything, because I believe that with the Clippers. I thought that team was set up to dominate, " Brian said. "I'm just going to wait back a little bit before I'm willing to just assume that this fit will mean the changing of the guard somewhere."

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How does PG improve the 76ers’ winning prowess?

As one of the best two-way players in the league, George, who hits 38.5% of shots from beyond the arc, is a huge upgrade over Tobias Harris in the Sixers’ starting lineup. Not only can George defend, with four All-Defensive Team selections to prove it, but the 6’8” forward can also take a lot of the scoring load off Joel Embiid's shoulders. However, a big concern with Paul is his injury history. With Embiid already getting flak for not being fully healthy during the playoffs, if their newest forward ends up having the same issues, it could mean big trouble for Philly in the future.

That being said, while this Big 3 appears solid on paper, especially with a veteran coming in who can make his presence felt off the ball, Windhorst is right to urge fans to stop overhyping moves before a trio actually proves their mettle.

Related: Skip Bayless says PG has never been a superstar: "Remember when Carmelo chuckled at the notion of Paul George calling himself 'Playoff P'?"