Home / Sports / Celtics Land Paul George: A New Era Begins
Celtics Land Paul George: A New Era Begins
15 Sep
Summary
- Paul George joins Celtics in trade for Jaylen Brown.
- George's arrival parallels Al Horford's veteran presence.
- Celtics plan load management for George's veteran season.
The Boston Celtics have significantly reshaped their roster by trading franchise player Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for likely future Hall of Famer Paul George. George begins his tenure with the Celtics in his 36th year, a situation drawing parallels to Al Horford's return to Boston in 2021 at age 35.
George's blend of shooting and defense is expected to complement the current Celtics squad, though challenges like his health history and reduced role compared to Horford's past responsibilities exist. The Celtics plan to manage George's workload, anticipating he will play at most 28 minutes per game and sit out back-to-back contests, mirroring Horford's management in previous seasons.
Despite potential contract negotiations and the team's financial flexibility, the Celtics anticipate George embracing a role-player designation. His skill set, including elite shooting and defense, makes him a valuable asset for spacing the floor and contributing defensively, rather than being a primary offensive initiator.
Modern sports medicine and the career longevity of players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry suggest that veteran stars can still impact winning late in their careers. George is expected to thrive as a high-level role player, similar to a wing version of Al Horford or a taller Jrue Holiday, for the Celtics.
