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How the Paul George Suspension Changes the Sixers’ Trade Deadline Approach
By Sean Barnard
Published:
There is never a dull moment with the Philadelphia 76ers. In this season’s head-scratcher, news broke Saturday that Paul George would be suspended for 25 games due to a violation of the NBA’s drug policy. George released his own statement following the news, taking accounting ability and letting it be known it stems from improper metal health medication:
I am sympathetic to the fact that George has been one of the bigger mental health advocates in the NBA, and talks about the status of his health (physical and mental) in just about every press conference, while also being critical that he is a professional athlete that must be fully cognizant of everything he puts in his body. The NBA provides plenty of resources to clear substances if need be and George fell short of this.
Being unable to get a consistent sample size of George playing alongside Joel Embiid and the rest of the Sixers has been a hurdle to both the unit learning to play together and the evaluation of how good they truly can be. Philadelphia will now play the next 23 games without George before he returns for the final 10-game regular season push and hopefully a playoff run. The Sixers also sit at 28-21 and in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They are three games back from the 2-seed and two games above falling into the play-in tournament. It feels almost certain that the difference in a playoff and play-in seed will almost certainly come down to a game or two and every win matters for the remainder of the season.
Prior to this suspension, George had settled into his role, averaging across 27 games 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 38.2% on three-point attempts. George has been the Sixers’ only true two-way wing and frequently picked up opposing teams’ best players. He has not been the max contract player some hoped, but he has consistently impacted winning at a high level and made the team better when he has been on the floor.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday and Daryl Morey will look to put the finishing touches on this roster. Not only is there now a need to make up for this level of production on the floor, but the suspension of George also has some major financial implications for what the Sixers will likely look to do:
The goal of getting below the luxury tax has been a frequent talking point when it comes to the Sixers’ trade deadline outlook. We can get in the weeds of arguing how frustrating it is that Josh Harris refuses to pay this extra money when considering his net worth and other business interests. But the reality is he has never been willing to do this during his Sixers tenure and the franchise has not paid the luxury tax since 2003-04. It feels healthier to just acknowledge this will be their mindset going in.
The pathway to ducking the tax just got significantly easier with George’s suspension knocking $5.87 million off their expected bill. Prior to the suspension, it seemed certain that Kelly Oubre Jr. and/or Andre Drummond would be moved in order to help get below the line. Following the suspension, it would now only require the Sixers dumping two minimum salaries to accomplish the same financial feat. This makes names like Eric Gordon, Johni Broome, Trendon Watford, Justin Edwards, or Kyle Lowry more likely candidates.
Oubre Jr. goes from a guy who seemed to be a certain trade piece to borderline untouchable. George leaves a massive void at the wing spot and Oubre Jr will now slot up as the number one wing on this roster in his absence. The 30-year-old has quietly had the most efficient season of his career, averaging 14.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 37.5% on three-point attempts. Players like Justin Edwards, Watford, and Dominick Barlow will also see their roles expanded.
The absence of George cannot be changed and the negative effects of this will still be felt. But to some extent the financial flexibility the suspension has brought on should be looked at as a blessing in disguise. Rather than operating with the pure goal of cutting costs, Morey has a chance to truly put his fingerprints on this roster and seek out some deadline upgrades. He has made at least one trade in all five years he has been in charge of the franchise at the deadline and expectations should remain the same for this season.
Morey should be viewing this as an opportunity to better the roster that otherwise would not have existed if George had passed the drug test or failed it a week later. This cannot be wasted and the Sixers front office should be centering all attention and redirecting these newfound funds into upgrading the roster to maximize this team’s postseason chances.
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.