Paul George hasn’t exactly lived up to his max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 23 games, George has averaged 16.3 points while shooting 42.2% and 33.6% from three.
Some of it is not his fault. He suffered multiple knee injuries that affected his availability. However, his overall production is not satisfactory, even though he sometimes plays like the George the Sixers envisioned when they signed him.
Enough time has passed that George is starting to draw some unfavorable comparisons. On Twitter, Josh Eberley compared him to a 76ers legend, writing, “Sixers Paul George giving like Pistons Allen Iverson vibes.”
Iverson’s reputation as a Sixer speaks for itself. However, in this context, it’s not something Sixers fans want to read.
The Iverson comparison is not a good thing
Though Iverson is one of the best Sixers in franchise history, he had a notoriously bad tenure with the Pistons.
The Pistons acquired him from the Denver Nuggets in 2008 for Chauncey Billups. By then, Iverson was a shell of his former self. Things had gone so badly for him and the Pistons that his lone season with them ended prematurely.
The key difference between the two situations is that the Sixers have George on their payroll for at least the next two seasons, as the last season on his four-year deal is a player option.
If George can’t improve, it may not be the worst idea for the Sixers to bring Jimmy Butler back in exchange for George.
For all the drama that Butler may potentially bring to the Sixers, he has usually been one to live up to his contract. The one conundrum would be if the Heat would take George’s contract back for Butler.
If he’s not living up to his deal now, that may only get worse with time.
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