Why Stephen A. doesn’t like how Paul George would fit in the Warriors’ system | First Take

Why Stephen A. doesn’t like how Paul George would fit in the Warriors’ system | First Take

nine time Allstar Paul George’s future with the Clippers is uncertain George arrived in LA in 2019 to pair with current running mate Ka Leonard but the duo has yet to get the Clippers to their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history so Wendy what is going on in LA to this point the Clippers have only been willing to offer Paul George about what they gave Kawhi Leonard three years at a little bit less than the max contract and Paul George frankly wants four years he wants a full out Max and there are a number of teams out there I am told that are prepared to give it to him who are prepared to trade for him one of those teams potentially is up the coast in Golden State all right Stephen A gonna start with you on this one how do you feel about that do you think that the Warriors should give PG a max deal no I do not um I’m not trying to imply that he’s not worth you know the money that he’s asking for particularly in today’s NBA economy you’re damn right he’s worth it um I would just tell you in that system the way that they play knowing that Steph Curry would be his teammate Paul George can ball and he can hit a three uh he can get to the basket he’s a big time Defender as well when he’s committed to doing so all of those things are true I just don’t view him as a catch and shoot guy I view him as somebody legs perk that has the potential to disrupt their Rhythm he’s better suited for the Clippers he’s better suited for Philadelphia he would have been better suited for the New York Knicks to some degree rather than Golden State that’s just how I view it I could be wrong but that’s how I see him watching him and his style of play uh ju opposed that to how Golden State balls I just view them as a bit different well I I will disagree with you a little bit here Stephen A far as a catch and shoot component he can do it he’s clearly better once he’s got a live dribble getting into his rhythm to shoot you’re 100% right about that but he did catch and shoot last year out three at like a 46% clip which is one of the reasons I said Philadelphia would make sense because that was one of the lowest catch and shoot percentage teams in the league in terms of attempts makes percentage you name it and that’s why he would fill that bill playing off of embiid and Maxi uh here’s the thing you got Steph Curry it’s incumbent upon you as an organization to continue to try to stay relevant competitive and win at the highest level as long as you have that dude you owe it to Steph Curry to do it he’s still playing at an elite level so when you look at the landscape of the league and who would potentially be available Paul George FS the bill as far as a guy that can fill it up he’s so smooth I love watching him play I’ve got some questions about pressure situations there’s been some spots in the playoffs when I’ve been questioned whether he had you know full confidence and was clear-minded to deliver the way he needs to so I think that’s the one thing for me that holds me back from going all in on Paul George so I wouldn’t love this move move but I also understand when you look at what you potentially could get there’s not a lot out there and if Paul George becomes available his age his skill set I think his ability to play Within the system and move without the ball pretty well um I think it would make sense from Golden State standpoint to give Steph Curry another multi-talented player next to him to give him a chance a better chance than what he’s got now is currently constructive well let me say this LS we had the same questions about KD confidence before he got the Golden State we had the same questions about Andrew Wiggins confidence before he got to Golden State and both of those guys are champions playing alongside Steph Curry I think it’s the best thing for the Golden State Warriors to try to get Paul George for the points that you pointed out you can’t waste you know these moments of of Steph Curry he’s been loyal to this organization and we’ve seen how frustrated he’s been over the last 2 years to the point that it seemed like at one point when Draymond Green was ejected in a in Orlando series it almost looked like Steph was crying like and you got to do right by him as a organization now when it comes down to PG I believe he fits well in that system because he’s great at moving without the ball he’s a slasher you know he could defend and you okay I don’t know about that last youan I mean I don’t listen listen Paul George is a smart basketball player and he’s very very gifted forgive me legs I don’t view him as somebody that does an extraordinary amount of movement without the basketball hold hold on hold on I don’t get no no no no no no no no see you’re looking from a shooting aspect right I’m not saying they’re going to run pin downs from for him or floppy sets I’m telling you when it comes down to moving without the basketball it’s other ways cutting to the basket right tou you you got his phone number right you got tou you got a great relationship with him calling and call and ask him how many pin downs and floppy sets he run for Paul George he’s he’s underrated in that category and if Andrew Wiggins Thrive playing alongside those guys I believe Paul George can and with when it comes down to being consistent defensively would you love to see him playing alongside Draymond Green a guy that puts that’s a good point that puts that key in your back some of ke Kevin Durant best days defensively was playing alongside Draymond Green I’m going to merge the two thoughts here I’m go create Stephen A Perkins Kendrick Smith what whatever we’re about whatever we’re about to do whatever we’re about to do right here I’m GNA merge the two because like here’s the thing I like what you’re saying about the pin Downs of floppies uh the curl action Paul George a great curly that’s not what Golden State runs where Paul George would have to buy into this is and this is what Golden State requires you to do when you play on a wing are you willing to cut and screen and dive and spot up and relocate and spend a lot of energy doing that knowing full well you might not get the basketball that is what Golden State requires you to do that is what Paul George has never been asked to do and that is what we we don’t know but I do think he’s capable of reading it he’s capable of catching and shooting it out of that action I think he would actually he’s a smart guy I think he would like playing with that kind of IQ around him but what I just said that’s not for everybody the amount of energy you expand knowing you won’t get it that that’s a different ask for a lot of star players that have been great offensively in this league PG don’t need to be your first option he need to be your second or third option and Steph Curry he needs a closer on this team a GU is going to be available look we know kawh Leonard is a closer but he’s never available at the end of the day I think it’s a perfect match made in heaven two-way player is two-way players are hard to come by and if you’re Golden State you got to do right by step I 100% agree with you on that [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Why Stephen A. doesn’t like how Paul George would fit in the Warriors’ system | First Take
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins and Tim Legler join Christine Williamson to discuss whether the Golden State Warriors should pursue Paul George during NBA free agency.
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