Does Paul George give the Sixers the best big 3 in the NBA? | ALL NBA Podcast

Which team had the best free agency so far? The Dallas Mavericks added Klay Thompson. What impact will Paul George make on the Philadelphia 76ers? Isaiah Hartenstein agreed to an $87 million deal with the Thunder. We've seen big moves, expected re-signings, head-scratchers, great value signings, and more below. Let's review all of them from Day 1 with grades for some.
Join Tim Legler and Adam Mares for today's ALL NBA Podcast!
00:00 - Intro
03:09 - Dallas Mavericks additions and departures
07:30 - What is Klay Thompson's roll?
11:05 - Losing Tim Hardaway Jr. and how that impacts Klay
15:20 - Quentin Grimes notes
18:05 - Naji Marshall notes
22:10 - Philadelphia 76ers additions and departures
22:15 - How does Paul George fit in?
33:45 - OKC Thunder additions and departures
34:40 - How does Isaiah Hartenstein fit?
38:06 - Orlando Magic additions and departures
39:00 - KCP and how he fits
An ALLCITY Network Production
Twitter: / allcity_nba
Instagram: / allcity_nba
TikTok / allcity_nba
All music credited to Greg Kramer, check him out on Spotify!
Indeed: listeners of this show will get a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/allcity. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.
Better Help: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ALLNBA and get on your way to being your best self.
Shady Rays is giving out their best deal of the season. Head to shadyrays.com and use code: AC35 for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people.
MANSCAPED: Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with code ALLNBA at Manscaped.com. That’s 20% off and free shipping with code ALLNBA at Manscaped.com
Add Fitbod to your workout essentials. Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE at Fitbod.me/ALLNBA.
When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions.
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
#nba #freeagency #nbafreeagency #dallasmavs #sixers #okcthunder #magic

[@ttam1217]

I love how you guys barely mentioned the money involved in the deals. It's important but so many analysts focus on it at the expense of talking about what happens on the court. You guys are great.

[@Phillygoat1983]

Amen ppl be really pocket watching as always smmfh

[@jordanlalonde2507]

@@Phillygoat1983you shake that motha fuc**ng head homie

[@Edgartlordandsavior]

Adam said, “our Dallas Mavericks” 😂 love it!

[@skatedurr]

ONE OF US, ONE OF US!

[@luisjalvareztorres8481]

He’s coming around 🤣

[@Crusader35]

Honestly, first time watching....this is a great show with solid chemistry. Legs has always been awesome when it comes to the NBA...

[@djedman10]

Thank you for starting this pod at the beggining of the season. I'm happy to see warranted but respectful criticism. Thanks again and keep'em coming 👏

[@Chrisicola]

ESPN would be fools to not have Tim in the fold. Talking about Klay shooting with movement in that GSW offense is a great point.

[@DFW817]

Legler needs be an assistant coach on the Mavs staff. Guy knows his stuff and could help with 3pt shooting mechanics.

[@michaeld6207]

Everything you said about Philly is correct Tim. But the fans I know are extremely excited about getting George. He’s brought some hope after another let down season last year.

[@michelazzam173]

You’re the best podcast out there! Keep it up! Your analysis of the Mavs new acquisitions is super good .

[@thuggathuggababy]

Part of the reason they don’t have ball movement sets and their guys sit in the corner because they haven’t had a guy like klay who could do that. They actually have ran some of it for tim at times

[@mikefreidel9861]

Leghs, I learned basketball from you back in the day at Washington lake park. Thanks for being great then and being great now. Always show love to us in Philly. Your one of us and definitely one of one. Blessing to you and the family. I still have the autograph basketball from when the game was over lol

[@jimmygreer2140]

Yeah, you could argue that Philly has the best Big 3. But I'm looking at Dallas and asking myself...can they actually have a Big 4? Because I believe that Dereck Lively can be a HUGE player next season if he just develops 2 or 3 moves from the short roll position. Just a few moves to compliment the passing he can make so that the defense has to make a move & can't just stay home on their guys. But yeah, I think the Mavs have a chance to have 2 Superstar caliber players and 2 star level players in their starting 5. Lively, as I pointed out. But I think Klay is gonna have a rebound year. He's got a chip on his shoulder. He's out to prove a few things this year to some people. And he's apparently pretty hungry for #5. I can't say what his final 2 years will be like for Dallas. But I'm 100% confident that THIS season they're gonna get every penny's worth from Klay. Not saying that Klay is gonna return to his Superstar caliber of play. But he's certainly gonna be comfortably in that Star level. Also, Klay has never played with a true PG on the level of Luka. And no team in the NBA creates more wide open 3's than Dallas and Klay is #1 in the league hitting wide open 3s. It's really a great pairing. And it's a wild stat but Luka has never played with a 40% shooter before. I wonder what that's gonna do to his assist totals. Too often the Mavs have wasted an insanely brilliant pass from Luka cause so-and-so missed the wide open shot.

[@tompratt7125]

I really like the Mavs but come on man. I think you got a little overexcited by the finals run. Dallas has a big two--even though Kyrie was a complete non factor in the finals--and that's it. Klay is now a role player and Lively is a nice piece but in no way is a star or one in the making. Dallas added nice roster depth last year and that was the turning point. It's the nice pieces around the starting back court that makes Dallas dangerous.

[@jimmygreer2140]

@@tompratt7125 You'd consider Gobert a Superstar? The Wolves certainly paid a price for him as if he absolutely IS that. But Lively was starting to wipe the floor with him. He certainly dominated the Thunder. He's already a rising defensive star. And once Kidd & Lively open up his offensive game he's gonna become a star very quickly. I'm not saying he's gonna be All-Pro. But he can certainly rise to the level of really nice big men...Zubac, Turner, Allen, Jonas, etc. He'll soon become a name where fans of other teams will be saying "wonder what'd it take to get Lively from the Mavs". And Klay is gonna surprise a lot of people. The team that creates the most wide open 3s now has the player who is the best at hitting wide open 3s.

[@nomorepartiezz]

@@tompratt7125 Lively was arguably the third most important player of the season on a Finals team (with only *Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving* above him) as a 20 year old rookie. That is not normal. He didnt even try shooting at all yet there’s been rumors and talk that he’s good at it since around the time he was drafted. This is literally the worst he’s ever gonna be until theoretically playing as a washed old man. Not saying he’s gonna be Shaq but I feel like youre downplaying him a bit. I know we’re talking about only next year right now but think about how much time he has to improve before he even reaches his prime in *5-7 years*

[@officialthomasjames]

@@tompratt7125 exactly. Klay is now a worse version of Miami Ray Allen. Lively hasn’t proven that he’s ready to be a star just yet.

[@bennparker2259]

Such a great pod

[@timothywang2560]

Love this podcast!

[@nomorepartiezz]

im the biggest Luka fan ever but i would love to see him be able to average something more like 28-10-10 while still winning. even though last year was the best team/season of his career so far there were still multiple month long chunks of the season where he was having to play 40+ minutes every night because of the team being racked by injuries.

[@phillyfaithful2690]

Good Philly analysis Tim. There’s a lot of Sixers malaise too with the way these seasons have ended. PS they valued Batum but he went home for family.

[@guccisgooch9661]

Honestly feel like Luka could average 12 or so assists this season w these acquisitions. You think bout how many open threes they missed, n now those open threes are gonna be in KLAY freakin THOMPSON’s hands. Not to mention that Naji is a better shooter than any of the guys the mavs lost too

[@tompratt7125]

Phila just added a second constantly injured playoff under performer. Big whoop. This team will crush it in January and likely get crushed in the second round. But at least the Sixers are taking a swing at it. Meanwhile the Nuggets and Calvin Booth do absolutely nothing while other teams in the west get better. Booth started very well as GM getting KCP and Bruce Brown--pieces Denver needed to get over the hump and get a chip--but has done jack since then. The Nuggets got worse last off season and they're now even worse with a super thin roster and a 'starting' 2 in Christian Braun that in no way is ready to start on a contender. Wasting Joker's prime. Sad.

[@michaeld6207]

As a Sixers fan that’s always the fear in the back of my mind, but they at least tried to do the best they could. I also love the Drummond signing, bench unit got killed on the glass last year. But I do empathize with you about wasting Jokers years, so many non sense years in Philly with clowns coming in and out every year.

[@tompratt7125]

@@michaeld6207 Yeah, me too re Drummond signing. I had hoped the Nuggets would get him. Whatever you want to say about Morrey he did manage to give the Sixers huge cap space and he's using it. If Phila can somehow stay healthy I think they've got a serious shot to come out of the east. You Sixers fans have had so much disappointment that I'm kind of pulling for that to happen. Good luck.

[@michaeld6207]

@@tompratt7125 thanks man…😅

[@chelillingworth9466]

Can Joel and Paul stay healthy That's the question, and I think at this point instead of thinking about the best big three I think we need to be thinking about the best team, I think the Celtics proved to this point during the playoffs and that's why so many experts were wrong about their predictions.

[@kylebushnell2601]

Best bball show of any kind

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Klay will do two years in Dallas then come back to GS to finish his career with step and dray 👍🏽

[@FocusFlightProductions]

Seen these story several years in a row not play out. Big names that look good on paper, don’t equal a championship. Suns, 6ers, Nets, Clippers, the list goes on. It’s about finding the right pieces, not big pieces.

[@julianc6863]

Difference is Joel and Maxey were drafted by Sixers all these other teams non of them drafted any of those teams. U still need to draft your main dudes to win. Look at past champs Boston Denver Milwaukee GS Cleve

[@tompratt7125]

George is the right piece. That's not the issue. Like Embiid he can't stay healthy. If by some miracle the Sixers can be healthy come playoff time--and I emphasize the word 'miracle'--they can absolutely come out of the east. But the odds are so long against that happening that this move may be a moot point in the end.

[@JFImagery]

Philly fans think every year that this is the year. And every year they’re hurt. Love PG, but he won’t change that paradigm.

[@quinnhenshaw7293]

Agreed. This Paul George trade will amount to more early playoff exits. Second round at the most

[@phillyfaithful2690]

He was the right fit. Exactly what they needed. Health is the question.

[@christianwarrior249]

The mavs just got better two times over the past week or so. Q dot AND Klay for thj and josh green.. Well take it! Best 3 is by far luka kyrie and klay, considering we have pj and lively, as well as a solid bench with Gafford maxi exum and the boys Dallas has a decent chance to repeat as western champs

[@xencloud]

As a Pels fan, I know for a fact, Naji will outshine KT. The fans will love him, he's a beast, biggest loss to the Pels roster, including the DM trade. Worth 15mil a year.

[@user-pv3wm9qo9d]

can you guys talk about the Orlando Magic?

[@LD21333]

Thunder up

[@xencloud]

In short...NO. Joel Embiid isn't a winning player. Nor is PG. I feel good and bad for Maxey, they'll have a decent year or two together. Maxey is actually valuable.

[@TjVarona]

This is a good pick up, I mean 50m for three years.

[@FiveJoel]

How is Tim not on an NBA staff? is it by choice?

[@DaCleva1]

Is Zack Lowe and Adam amares related?They sound and lookalike?

[@mctaguer]

I have a simpler explanation for that lack of excitement: Philly. The City That Booed Santa. No need to overthink it.

[@gsc76]

Or maybe it’s because it’s year 13 of “the process”. It’s Embiids 11th season, he’s been injured all 11 seasons. He’s been injured all 7years in his playoff career and the playoff games that he wasn’t injured he’s been less than stellar a majority of the time. He also seems to have no problem blaming others for the teams failures. The Celtics are just that much better too. Say what you want about 6er fans, but they are an intelligent fanbase.

[@officialthomasjames]

PG instead of Trashbias. Us Philly fans should he ecstatic, regardless of the risk involved.

[@SDesWriter]

I think way too much is being made of Dallas using spot up shooters versus GSW‘s motion offense. Half the time Klay was doing turnaround jumpers from 25 to 30 feet. I think he’ll adjust fine to more set shots or shooting off the screens. I’ve seen them do some motion sets for Hardaway so I know it’s in their system, they just don’t do it a lot because they had shit motion shooters. If there’s one thing Kidd is exceptional at, it’s understanding how to get shooters the ball in a position they’re going to succeed in. One of the best to ever do it on the court. Also, if you watch Luca playing international ball with Slovenia’s team, they do a lot more motion in their offense than Dallas and he’s perfectly happy to do it.

[@officialthomasjames]

The Magic should try to get Darius Garland

[@tonydavis6487]

There is no chance that Phillys "Big 3" is better than Dallas. It's obviously different positions but just ranking their top 3 players. Luka is better than Embiid. Kyrie is better than Maxey. I will give them that PG is better all around than Klay, at this point in their careers but I can't see any scenario if both teams are fully healthy where Philly is beating Dallas in a 7 game series. Philly won't make it out of the East, Boston is still better and so are the Knicks. Embiid < Luka Maxey < Kyrie PG > Klay

[@florida1289]

Quinton Grimes, I've never seen someone miss as many shots in a row as he did in Detroit. NY sold at right on him. People will say, "but Luka will get him open shots" and I agree but so did Cade..over n over n over he missed (9-42 fg) (4-28 3pt) until finally it was so brutal they made some fake injury up and sat him down in street close for the rest of the year. I think it's a confidence issue, we'll see though

[@JFImagery]

Best theoretical big three. Will all three ever be healthy for the entire playoffs? My bet is no…

[@vman1654]

I bet all 3 play less than 50 percent of season together. 2 of 3 are always hurt and Maxey plays relentlessly. He eventually will get hurt also

[@heemy224]

The fans are excited about this team. It's all the whole area is talking about. In the streets, radio, podcast, wawa lol. The people are excited

[@winterfoxcloud]

i would hate to be a fan of a team that is relying on two historically injury prone postseason chokers - embiid and pg13 is a recipe for 100+ games missed per season between the two of them

[@ziggymarley8498]

We don't care wat u think.. Choke on these 🥜 🤡

[@M3GRSD]

I love Maxey, so the slander is being directed to PG-13 and Embiid. What have they shown us at this point in either of their careers that they can lead a team to the Finals? Absolutely Nothing, so by definition, no this is not the best big three. Does anyone remember the trio of KD, Harden, and Irving? We need to stop judging these guys based on what they've done in totality, and more on what have you done for me lately. Lately, they're always hurt when it matters.

[@Hextaii]

Was that a yes, or a no??..do the Sixers have the best big 3??

[@frankpeng2448]

No. Typical Daryl Morey signings. All blings and glitter with hundreds of millions for ageing stars because the "stats make sense". Morey's signings for the Rockets set the franchise back 5 years.

[@alexgonzalez8904]

Big two handicaps signs on the bench

[@quinnhenshaw7293]

This Paul George trade is a joke. Emiid and Phili have officially wasted all of Emiid early and prime career time. Unbelievable. Incapable of drafting and building and incapable of making proper trades. Emiid need to leave

[@mrwesmess6715]

IHeart won't start, but maybe like 15 games.

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Paul George never comes through in the playoffs and has never been that guy who can carry a team. I just don’t the hype around him. He’s a slightly above average NBA journeyman player 🥸

[@franklinrodriguez6697]

Steph taking the chip this year .

[@TysonC-hl3fo]

Dallas , nuggets and Philly needs a bench. Knicks and Boston are the 2 best teams otherwise.

[@colesmith193]

OKC and MN are both better than Denver at this point, unless they can add someone before the season.

[@luisjalvareztorres8481]

Dallas needs a bench? Gafford, Maxi Kebler, Naji, Grimes, Hardy, Exum… Literally 3 of those 6 could be starters on any other team. How’s that not a bench??

[@ericheffner112]

Boy you tripping!!! No bench? The Knicks? 😂 Please cut the cap! 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@TysonC-hl3fo]

@@luisjalvareztorres8481 The finals exposed that weak bench. Nobody on that bench gets their own buckets consistently. That's why they struggled in the finals and traded Hardawayimmediately after. Watch the games

[@TysonC-hl3fo]

@@colesmith193 agreed. OKC could finish 1st in the west. They definitely improved in the off-season

[@joshnic6639]

CAN WE STOP with the “star players” BS. Y’all are old enough , as am I, to remember how much better Michael Jordan was than everybody else. nowadays team is so important there’s no such thing as star players. there’s really not. I would argue that Jrue Holliday, and Mr. White for the Celtics were the most important players, so Team chemistry is what matters most in today’s game and that’s what should be focused on more. Although I will say if you took away, Joel Embiid’s shitty, shitty pressure, follies or lack of being able to handle pressure, I would say Joel Embiid might be one of the hardest players to guard ever in the NBA. But luckily for the rest of the NBA, he can’t handle pressure situations worth a damn it’s probably because he started playing too late.

[@ericsdchmidt2426]

Stop listening WIP Tim come on lol

[@dsm577]

How is Maxey a big player? What has he ever done?

[@danmoreman954]

This team is the Clippers 2.0. Lots of money to big names that will be in street clothes way too often. Not smart.

[@ziggymarley8498]

Wrong 🤡

[@nicholaseaster58]

Celtics in 5

[@theovrionides7666]

Sixers so desperate to match the Knicks they payed a 35 year old 😂 max cash 💰fyi he couldn't win with 3 other Hal off famers

[@LordAnt611]

Nah they tryna compete with Boston. I’m a Knicks fan but I don’t see this move as one against NY. What would they have done if they faced Boston instead of Knicks? Oubre, Tobias, and Batum defending Tatum or J Brown….. that would’ve been a Cake walk for Boston. Not to mention Maxey facing one of the best Lockdown Guards in the League. Maxey had some insane games in the First round but we had Brunson, Divincenzo and Hart defending him. They played hard but they aren’t doing what Holiday and White would do(mainly holiday)

[@jaredmula8830]

The knicks just gave og anunoby 42 Ms a year and 5 first round picks for mikal bridges. Id say theyre pretty desparate too

[@theovrionides7666]

@@jaredmula8830 as I recall your team was trying to give OG $50 million a year to steal him from the Knicks #2 those picks are 25 th pick of the draft they stink ,, #3 bridges is 6 yers younger and a great contract at $25 million a year not $49 a year you gave a 35 yrs old who’s always hurt so you don’t know basketball pal

[@LordAnt611]

Knicks were desperate to Keep OG but that don’t make them desperate overall. We gave up assets for him and to let him go to the 76ers would’ve been the worst blunder in Leon Rose’s tenure. Now do I think we overpaid OG and the Nets for Mikal bridges….. hell yea but that’s the cost to do business. Minnesota gave up an insane amount for Gobert and that mans can’t hit a free throw or shoot a 3 consistently

[@flyeaglesfly3608]

The knicks gave a guy who has never been an allstar and who is injury prone 200+ million then gave up 5 first round picks for a role player LOL

[@StillKeepOnLosing]

Simple answer.... Delusional. Not even close

[@krobinson8627]

Are we sure that the Celtics are that much better than everybody else in the East? The Celtics have been really good for awhile. This is not new. What is new is that there was nobody in the East to really challenge them this year. Everybody was hurt. Even Jimmy was hurt in Miami. Embiid was hurt way before the playoffs even started. He was even really expected to be back. Giannis was hurt and wasn't somebody else on the Bucs hurt? Of course, the Celtics are good but I don't think really know how good because they was barely any legit competition in the playoffs. They basically had a cake walk to the finals.

[@matthewspangler2708]

Yes, we’re sure. They lapped the league in regular season record before all those injuries happened. The regular season matters, and they took care of business.

[@BigxBlue17]

That’s such a bad take and this is coming from a Knicks fan. Boston is easily the favorite in the east

[@krobinson8627]

@@BigxBlue17 I am not saying they are not. I am challenging the notion that they are so much better that everyone is saying. They were supposed to be the prior years and they didn't make it. It is easy to say how great they were in the playoffs this year when they didn't have to play anybody legit in the East because all the teams had injuries to their top player. Who did they have to play to get to the Finals? Let's be for real.

[@krobinson8627]

@@matthewspangler2708 Nope! The Celtics have been doing that every year and still got knocked out in the playoffs so I don't want to hear about regular season wins. They played nobody to get to the finals.

[@JFImagery]

Everybody talked about Denver’s easy path to the finals. Can’t think of another year that was easier than Boston’s path. Are they favorites? Sure. Are they that much better? No. KP starting year hurt. Every year is different, and they had to play more games than anyone else in the East. Things won’t be easy this year.

[@wizwiz-pr7jg]

Plain and simple too old. Injury proned sixers

[@PRODIGY-AND-HAVOC]

Omg.....Whining about the pretty boy Warriors and Klay era collapse is keeping yall big as hell....WE DONE WITH THE BAY AREA! Mavs Beantown Bombers☘ AGAIN in finals! heard it here FIRST! i predicted that matchup around Turkey day last year...WAY before trade deadline moves by the great Nico Harrison☘

[@ericheffner112]

Celtics won't be back. Every star in the East was hurt is why they even made it to the Finals this year.

[@PRODIGY-AND-HAVOC]

@@ericheffner112 Only time will tell obviously bc of things like what u said injuries and moves teams make next 8-9 months but intangibles like "finally getting over the hump" might definitively catapult the Cs.....surprisingly No repeaters in a while esp after folk thought Nuggs would go on IMMEDIATE run..big picture = parity ROCKS!

[@younguglyrob8950]

just started a new job and i can’t watch the lives anymore…pain…pain