The Philadelphia 76ers made a massive splash in free agency Monday morning by reportedly signing nine-time All-Star forward Paul George.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, George and the Sixers agreed to a four-year, $212 million maximum contract, thus ending his five-year tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In Philly, George will join a pair of in star players in 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and 2023-24 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey, making the Sixers one of the biggest threats in the Eastern Conference.
While several factors likely played into PG-13's decision to ink a deal with the 76ers, several fans on social credited Embiid's recruiting skills for landing the 34-year-old veteran:
DraftKings @DraftKingsWhere it all began <a href="">
Austin @AustinPlanetHe made it happen. <a href="">
Gerasimos Gerovasiliou @Gerasimos76This is the first time I've seen Joel Embiid go out and publicly recruit a top star and he did so live and successfully with Paul George. 😂
MarlHoops @MarlHoopsJoel Embiid actually recruited Paul George to the Sixers on live TV 😂<br><br>"Hopefully, this season we'll find a way to get better and, you know, *looks at Paul George*, add some pieces." <a href="">
D🏀NNY BUCKETS 🗑️ @LasIslasPelicanThis Side eye Joel Embiid cost $212m for 4 years 😂<a href="">#PaulGeorge</a><a href="">#NBA</a> <a href="">
Yasuke @Yasuke1886Embiid was busy scheming & tapping up PG
T glizz @tbierer123<a href="">@JoelEmbiid</a> knew
AbdulOsman.eth @theabdulosmanGM-biid in full effect 😂😂
Many of the X posts alluded to Embiid and George both appearing on ESPN NBA Countdown earlier this month during the NBA Finals.
During that show (h/t Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia), Embiid said, "Hopefully, this offseason we find a way to get better and add some pieces," while smiling and seemingly looking in George's direction.
Perhaps Embiid laid the groundwork that night to bring George to Philly and complete a new Big Three along with Maxey.
The Sixers have seemingly been seeking out a third star ever since they traded James Harden to the Clippers last year, and now they undoubtedly have it in George.
George, 34, has been one of the most complete players in the NBA throughout his career, earning nine All-Star nods, six All-NBA selections and four NBA All-Defensive Team selections.
Last season, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.3 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals per game, and he also shot a career-best 47.1 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from deep.
Most importantly, he played in 74 games, which were his most since 2018-19. Durability was a huge concern in George's first four seasons in L.A., as he didn't appear in more than 56 games in any of them.
Embiid has also had significant injury issues in recent years, including missing 43 games last season, which played a big role in the 76ers having to go through the postseason play-in tournament and ultimately losing to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
Health will perhaps be the biggest key to the Sixers' success next season, as healthy core of Embiid, Maxey and George should put Philly among the Eastern Conference's elite teams.
Of course, there is risk involved with signing a 34-year-old player with injury concerns to a four-year max deal, but the Sixers are in win-now mode for as long as they have Embiid, and George should at least put them in the mix.
