The Celtics made the right call trading Jaylen Brown for Paul George. While Brown is in his prime and a fantastic player, he wanted more offensive control. George is older, at 36, and he knows exactly where he fits on this roster. He is not here to steal the shine from Jayson Tatum. He is here to make Tatum better.
Accepting the Role
George has already said what many fans wanted to hear. At his introductory press conference, he made his stance clear. “We have a superstar, and that’s JT. I’m not here to — not necessarily steal the shine or try to reinvent who I am,” expressed George. He added, “I’m here to help JT, and he’s the guy.”
Brown spent nearly a decade wondering if he would ever get that top spot. When Tatum got hurt, Brown stepped up and led the team to 56 wins. He finished sixth in MVP voting and made an All-NBA Second Team. But that success came with a price. He wanted to be the main guy. George does not want that job right now. He is happy to be the sidekick. That peace of mind changes everything for the offense.
Shooting and Ball Security
The fit is also about the skills George brings to the floor. He is a better three-point shooter than Brown was. This creates more space for Tatum to drive. George is also a turnover-suppressor. He is not as good at isolation scoring as Brown, but he is less likely to get stripped by defenders. The nine-time All-Star is also a passer.
Hardwood Houdini states that George delivers 11.0 passes per reports. That is a number we did not see often with Brown. The team is already seeing this on the court. During Boston’s 125-111 win over the Chicago Bulls, George executed a pass on the first play that was new to watch. He is making the right reads.
Cedric Maxwell, a former Celtics forward, weighed in on the trade too. He called the drama between the players “so much to do about nothing.” Two players likely received $150 million, he noted regarding the team. You cannot fill the roster with that kind of cap hit. The math forced the move. Now, the Celtics have a cleaner fit.
A New Defensive Edge
George is also changing how the team plays on defense. Boston is generating 18.4 turnovers per contest. That is the fourth-most in the league. Last season, the team ranked 29th out of 30 teams in this category. George is the straw that stirs the drink. He is averaging 2.4 steals and 5.8 deflections per game.
Payton Pritchard noticed the difference immediately after the Friday night win. “His defense is phenomenal,” said Payton Pritchard. “I didn’t know how good it was until I’ve seen it close.” The team is now a more disruptive force. Per game, George contests 3.8 three-point attempts. That places him in the top 10 in that category.
The coaching staff is ready to lean on this new dynamic. Joe Mazzulla said, “At the end of the day, we want the ball in his hands, and he’s going to make plays for himself and for others.” The system is built for Tatum to be the fulcrum. George is the perfect piece to make that work. The friction is gone. The spacing is better. The Celtics are ready to win.
