The Philadelphia 76ers should consider themselves lucky to have signed former Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George less than a day after free agency opened.
George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers as an unrestricted free agent while the rest of the NBA is forced to take a different approach to major acquisitions. Trades are a much more time-consuming and often damaging method of gaining star power in the league. Perhaps none is a greater example this summer than the New York Knicks acquiring forward Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets.
If George crumbles over the next couple seasons, it impacts the Sixers' present but not their future. Alternatively, if the Knicks are unable to win a championship in the coming years, their draft capital still belongs to the Nets. New York traded five first-round draft picks, a first-round pick swap, and a second-round selection for Bridges. The picks extend all the way until 2031.
Looking ahead, numerous championship contenders are looking to acquire DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls) or Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz). However, few teams hold the cap space to sign DeRozan to his desired contract while Utah's front office is looking to pry away a team's future in exchange for Markkanen. While both stars could drastically impact an organization's success, it will come at a much steeper long-term price than the Sixers signing George.
