Paul George is heading into his first season with the Boston Celtics carrying a little extra weight on his shoulders, and HoopHype’s latest small forward ranking suggests the pressure is real.
In its list of the top 27 small forwards ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopHype placed George at No. 22. That’s a drop from No. 18 a year ago, and it comes after a season that was interrupted by injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
“George will head into the season with some pressure, as it’ll be his first campaign with the Boston Celtics, having to fill the huge shoes left behind by Jaylen Brown,” writes HoopsHype's Frank Urbina. “George obviously won’t be expected to match the departed swingman’s level of output, but he will need to pick up a lot of slack playing for a Boston team that almost always has championship-or-bust expectations.
“Can he live up to that? We’ll find out, but we do think he’s underrated by some, as he’s still got the ability to hit tough shots, finish around the basket and create havoc defensively.”
The 21 players ranked ahead of George were Jayson Tatum, Cooper Flagg, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Deni Avdija, Franz Wagner, Brandon Ingram, Brandon Miller, AJ Dybantsa, Norman Powell, Mikal Bridges, Trey Murphy III, Michael Porter Jr., Devin Vassell, Jaden McDaniels, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Jimmy Butler and Dyson Daniels.
George’s 2025-26 season was shortened to 37 games, but when he was on the floor, he still showed the kind of two-way impact that has defined his career. He averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals while hitting 39.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
He also made his presence felt in Philadelphia’s first-round upset of the Celtics. In that series, George averaged 17.4 points per game and shot 55.0 percent from 3, while giving Boston problems defensively against both Brown and Tatum.
If he stays healthy and finds his All-Star level again, there’s a path back up the rankings next year.
In Other News...
Paul George Arrival Puts Celtics Rotation Questions Front And Center
The Celtics are set to introduce Paul George, Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson at a media event on Sept. 15, and the timing underscores how much of the conversation around this group has already shifted from star power to fit. With Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens also scheduled to speak, Bostons offseason additions are now being measured against the same question that follows every reshaped contender: who starts, who settles in, and how quickly the pieces can be arranged without disturbing the core.
Robinsons expected bench role is one part of that puzzle, while Conley gives the Celtics a veteran depth option at point guard and George brings obvious intrigue inside Mazzullas system. Even Neemias Quetas contract situation ties into the bigger roster picture, because Boston is clearly weighing how each spot is used and protected. The real test may not be whether the names fit on paper, but how seamlessly the Celtics can sort out the rotation once the conversations turn into actual minutes. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Have A Low-Risk Guard Opportunity Worth Watching
The Celtics have a fresh little roster wrinkle to monitor after the Hawks waived Devin Carter, opening the door for a guard who has already logged NBA time and could fit neatly into Bostons two-way conversation. Carter spent last season with Sacramento, appearing in 38 games, and his availability comes at a time when the Celtics are always weighing low-cost backcourt options that can add depth without changing the bigger picture.
Boston does have internal choices if it wants to stay in-house, including Milos Uzan, so this is not a case of urgency. Still, Carters status is worth watching because a two-way spot can turn into one of those quietly useful roster moves, especially for a team that likes to keep as many flexible guard options around as possible. The remaining question is whether Carter is open to that kind of path and whether another opportunity pulls him elsewhere first. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Fans Got Pulled Into A Trey Murphy Question Again
A bogus trade rumor was enough to drag Celtics fans back into the Trey Murphy III conversation again, this time through an Instagram post that claimed Boston and New Orleans were in advanced talks involving Murphy, Dejounte Murray, Paul George and draft picks. The post spread quickly and got plenty of attention before anyone had a chance to separate speculation from reality, which is exactly the kind of noise that tends to follow a player Boston has at least kept an eye on.
Murphy remains the kind of name that naturally pops up in Celtics circles because the team has been reported to monitor his market, but there is no indication a deal is close or even formally taking shape. For now, it is another reminder that in the social media era, a loud rumor can make a real basketball question feel much bigger than it is, even when the actual answer is still somewhere off in the distance. [Read more 🡒]