Paul George completes Sixers’ Big 3. But it’s a Big 5 League now

The Philadelphia 76ers landed the biggest fish of free agency, agreeing to terms with former L.A. Clippers star Paul George on a reported four-year, $212 million pact in the opening hours of free agency. It represents probably the most impactful free agent signing in Philly’s 75-year franchise history. The Sixers’ faithful should be thrilled with their new Big 3 of George, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

But the last two teams to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy — the 2022-23 Denver Nuggets and the 2023-24 Boston Celtics — were built upon the belief that the Big 3 era is dead. Welcome to the era of the Big 5.

More so than ever, the NBA has become a war of attrition, with injuries dictating postseason outcomes. And to survive it, you can’t have all of the team’s hopes hinging on just three players.

While sports talk shows spent countless hours debating where the Celtics’ Big 2 of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown stacked up against the rest of the league’s star duos, Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ front office were busy building a Big 5. Yes, as I wrote in the aftermath of their championship, the Celtics’ title is a crowning confirmation that three (points) is more than two.

But it also proved that five (stars) is more than three.

Joel Embiid and Paul George are joining forces in Philly. How far can they go in the East? (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Rather than breaking up the Tatum-Brown duo, the Celtics went in the other direction and upgraded the supporting cast. Before last season, the Celtics boldly cut bait on Marcus Smart and traded him for a former All-Star in Kristaps Porziņģis, who had been coming off a year in which he averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in Washington. Not only that, they flipped Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and two first-round picks for two-time All-Star Jrue Holiday, who had been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard.

Counting Tatum, Brown and Al Horford, those monster deals gave the Celtics five players who had been an All-Star in the previous six seasons. Add Derrick White, who just agreed to a contract worth a reported…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-07-01 21:11:54

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