Would Paul George Turn the Philadelphia 76ers Into Contenders?

With the Boston Celtics cakewalking their way to the NBA Finals, one can’t help but reflect on the seven other playoff teams that couldn’t make the cut in the decimated Eastern Conference. The Pacers and Magic, both brimming with youthful potential, still need reinforcements. The Cavaliers and Knicks, both plagued by injuries, were always more pretenders than contenders. The Heat and Bucks, both victims of aging rosters and injury woes, find themselves in need of something fresh.

And then there’s the Philadelphia 76ers. Yet again, they crumbled in the first round, marking the seventh straight season they have reached the playoffs but lost in the first two rounds. But this season felt different, didn’t it? Joel Embiid was outperforming his MVP campaign from a year before, Tyrese Maxey emerged as an All-Star, and Nick Nurse’s system had the team…