If George can play 60 games + playoffs (Horford-like), this trade will age well. If it is more like 40-50 games and then worn out for the playoffs (Porzingis-like), not so much and there will be a lot more pressure on what BOS gets out of those picks (either in the draft or trading the picks).
Personally I couldn't care less if he plays 60 regular season games or 40. As long as we're able to be a top four team in the East and play a lesser team in Round 1, the amount of games PG plays is meaningless to me.
It's all about advancing to the ECFs and making it a competitive series. If PG contributes greatly in the playoffs, that's what will make this trade "better."
The trade still sucks (currently), but if PG can push this team to an ECF or better-- not just be on the team, but be our #2 or #3 best player-- then I'll have to revisit the trade and assess it again.
That's a big if. I'm not delusional. But it's not out of the realm of possibility.
If Paul George was guaranteed to be 100% healthy for the playoffs I could even maybe buy the argument that he actually might help us more than Jaylen in the playoffs.
Its just never gonna happen. He got to sit half the year this season for a drug suspension, was totally healthy, and still basically ran out of gas in the 2nd round.
I don't think that series against the Knicks showed us anything about Paul George. Maxey shot poorly too but no one says he ran out of gas.
That Knicks team was just hitting on all cylinders at the right time.
I'm more optimistic about how this season will go with him than many, but we will see. I think his game overall fits better next to the rest of the core guys, and I think that will lead to better overall play from those players.
