Joe Mazzulla didn’t exactly need to sell anyone on Paul George. The guy’s been a first-team All-NBA guy, a nine-time All-Star, a walking bucket for a decade and a half. But when the Celtics head coach sat down with reporters Thursday, he sounded like someone who just found out he’s getting a cheat code for the upcoming season.
Boston landed George in a blockbuster trade with the 76ers this summer, sending Jaylen Brown the other way along with some serious emotional baggage. That 10-year partnership between Brown and the Celtics produced a ring in 2024 and five conference finals appearances, so yeah, it wasn’t an easy breakup. But the front office saw a window and decided to kick it wide open.
The Celtics also added Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson in free agency, giving Mazzulla three veterans who’ve seen just about everything the league can throw at them. And Mazzulla didn’t hold back when asked what he expects from the new arrivals.
“Mitch’s ability to protect the rim, his ability to rebound on both ends of the floor, his ability to change the game,” Mazzulla said, per reporter Justin Turpin. “We all know part of our game plan was to try and get him off the floor as much as we could because of how effective he was. So he’ll bring in something different. And the same thing with Paul George. He brings an experience. He’s been in the league for such a long time. And Mike brings in an experience being around great coaches, being around great organizations.”
What the new guys actually bring
Robinson is a 7-footer who alters shots without even jumping. He’s the kind of interior presence Boston hasn’t really had since Robert Williams was healthy and flying around. And the Celtics know exactly how annoying he can be — they spent the last few seasons trying to scheme him off the floor during playoff series.
Conley is 38 now but still one of the smartest point guards in the league. He won’t blow anyone away with athleticism, but he doesn’t turn the ball over, he hits open threes, and he’s been the adult in the room for some very good teams in Memphis, Utah, and Minnesota.
As for George, the Celtics are betting that he’s still got enough left in the tank to be a secondary star alongside Jayson Tatum. He averaged 23 points and 5 rebounds last season while shooting 38% from deep. That’s not prime Paul George, but it’s still pretty good. And in Boston, he won’t have to carry the offense the way he did in Philly. Tatum is the guy now. George can pick his spots.
The Celtics finished 56-26 last season and grabbed the No. 2 seed in the East. That part went fine. What didn’t go fine was blowing a 3-1 series lead in the first round to the Sixers, who knocked them out in seven games. That collapse sent the front office scrambling, and the Brown-for-George trade was the biggest result.
There are still questions. George is 36 and has a history of nagging injuries. Conley is basically a coach in shorts at this point. And Robinson has only played more than 60 games once in his career. But on paper, this roster has more balance than last year’s team, which sometimes felt like Tatum or Brown trying to bail everyone out in isolation.
Training camp hasn’t started yet. But Mazzulla already sounds like a guy who knows he’s got some new toys to play with.
Leave a Comment