Paul George’s suspension is not the news that the Philadelphia 76ers could have wanted to hear. Not that George has been really available for the 76ers since coming over from the Los Angeles Clippers. Now the question is: how does his suspension affect the Sixers’ trade-deadline plans and Nick Nurse’s rotation?
How Does Paul George’s Suspension Affect the 76ers’ Trade Deadline Plans And Lineup in the future
George was suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, the league announced earlier today. George claimed in a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania that the suspension is related to him taking “improper medication” to deal with his mental health issues. His suspension begins tonight when the 76ers face New Orleans, and he will lose $11.7 million in salary.
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” the statement read. “I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates, and the Philly fans for my poor decision-making during this process. I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return.”
George hasn’t been great this year and has only appeared in 27 of the 76ers’ 47 contests. Still, the 35-year-old has played better over the last two months and is one of the team’s most important players due to his two-way ability. He is one of the Sixers’ top 3-point shooters, scorers, and rebounders. and defenders.
George averages 16.0 points. 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31 minutes a game. George knocks down 2.4 threes a game with shooting splits of 42.4/38.7/88.5. He has scored in double-figures 23 times, hitting the 20-point mark on six occassions, and produced one double-double. The Sixers have won 16 of the 27 games in which he has appeared, and he is second on the team with a plus/minus of +3.2.
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