The Paul George trade to the Boston Celtics is real, and the internet did what the internet does. Within about 12 seconds of the news dropping, the jokes started rolling in, and they have not stopped since.
The Celtics needed a wing after moving Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. Paul George is a wing. On paper, it makes sense. In practice, PG has become one of the most memed players in the league because of his rough playoff performances over the years, and every fanbase has jokes ready to go.
The most common takes involved his playoff track record. One popular joke suggested Boston should mail the trophy back now to save time. Another suggested that Celtics fans should get used to watching the ECF from home this year. And someone pointed out that the Boston bench probably has a “PG-13” rating now for how quickly things could turn.
The truth is more complicated. Paul George is still an elite two-way wing when healthy. He shot over 40 percent from three last season. He is a smart defender who can guard multiple positions. His playoff struggles are real, but they are also overstated. Not every star can shoulder the load of being the guy. In Boston, he does not have to be.
The Celtics still have Jayson Tatum. They just added a mid-tier All-Star scorer in the deal that sent Brown out. Adding PG gives them three legitimate scoring options plus their defensive core. That is a top-four team in the East on paper.
PG himself has been through this before. He was traded to the Clippers, hyped up as a co-star with Kawhi, and then never quite delivered in the playoffs. He went to Philly last summer, dealt with injuries, and got shipped out this summer. Boston is his third team in three years.
At some point the jokes stop and the basketball starts. If PG stays healthy, he is going to help this Boston team. The Celtics still know how to play. Joe Mazzulla will find him good shots. Tatum will draw the defense’s attention. This can actually work.
Or he gets hurt in game 47 and misses another playoff run. That is the other outcome. Both are on the table.
The jokes will keep coming until the games start. PG has heard them all before. Now he has to prove them wrong on the biggest stage the league has to offer.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
