Tyrese Maxey: ‘The Sky is the Limit’ for 76ers After Paul George Contract in NBA FA

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJuly 4, 2024

David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers made the biggest move of the summer, signing superstar wing Paul George to a massive four-year, $211.5 million contract. That has created a big three of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and George and has the city of Philadelphia buzzing.

Maxey is definitely excited.

“He’s a guy that you can pick up and plug into any system because of his talent,” he said of George on Wednesday. “He’s 6’9″, he can shoot the ball, rebound the ball, pass the ball well. Play on the ball, play off the ball, play off hand-offs, play in transition. The sky is the limit.”

NBC Sports Philadelphia @NBCSPhilly”The sky is the limit”

🎙Tyrese Maxey talks Paul George on the Takeoff Podcast out next week pic.twitter.com/jZK34tp3of

The Sixers have paired other stars alongside Embiid in the past, to varying degrees of success, but George is the best fit yet.

Unlike James Harden, he’s an excellent defender and doesn’t need the offensive system catered around him to have success. Unlike Jimmy Butler, he’s effective off the ball and is a willing—and potent—three-point shooter. Unlike Ben Simmons, he isn’t afraid to shoot the ball and impacts the game as a scorer.

But George has also shown a willingness to play off another star and is capable of fitting within multiple systems. The Sixers now have a dominant two-way center in Embiid, an ascendant lead guard in Maxey and a true two-way wing in George.

On paper, the trio appears to be a seamless fit.

Time will tell if that proves to be true. Rounding out the roster around them remains a priority. And the Sixers will be tested in a loaded Eastern Conference, as the Boston Celtics are the defending champions, the New York Knicks improved this offseason and the Milwaukee Bucks still have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

If Philly is finally going to get past the second round in the Embiid era, this is the group to do it. Expectations are understandably high. Health permitting—and that’s a big question mark for players like Embiid and George—these Sixers look dangerous.