The Celtics’ blockbuster move for Paul George has already produced one uncomfortable question: how much can Boston really ask from him before the playoffs?
That concern surfaced Thursday in Eric Pincus’ NBA notebook for Casino.org, where an anonymous NBA scout suggested the Celtics may need to keep George around a 60-game workload in the 2026-27 season. An Eastern Conference executive echoed the worry, pointing to the 36-year-old’s legs and raising doubts about whether he can hold up deep into the year.
“Boston is going to have to manage his minutes all year, try to lighten his workload, play him closer to 60 games or so,” the scout told Pincus.
The comments don’t mean Boston has already set a hard cap on George, but they do underline the tension at the center of this trade. The Celtics didn’t bring him in to pile up numbers in November. They brought him in for April and May.
That’s why the early production matters, even if the long view matters more. Through the opening stretch of the season, George was averaging 20.7 points, six rebounds and five assists in about 31 minutes per game. Jaylen Brown, now in Philadelphia after the offseason deal, was putting up 20.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 36.1 minutes.
Boston has already shown it can get solid output from George without leaning on him the way Philadelphia is leaning on Brown. The bigger issue is whether that can last once the grind of the schedule tightens.
George has already had at least one night off, sitting out Monday’s 109-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back. That fits the broader concern around his durability, not his talent. Nobody is questioning what he can do when he’s out there.
“The greater concern with Paul George is his legs,” the executive told Pincus, adding that he believes George will wear down before Brown does.
The trade also carried a financial layer. A Western Conference executive told Pincus the Celtics were unwilling to keep paying the massive luxury-tax bill tied to their championship roster. Boston also picked up draft compensation in the deal, giving it more flexibility than a straight star-for-star swap.
Still, the Celtics didn’t make this move for flexibility alone. They made it because they believe George can help them win when it counts.
If he stays healthy and productive in the postseason, the deal will look a lot better. If his body starts to betray him, Boston may spend a long time wondering what it gave up.
For now, George is giving the Celtics what they hoped to get. The real question is whether they can keep enough of that version of him in reserve for the games that matter most.
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Celtics Just Sent An Early Message About Their First Round Pick
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For a rookie still trying to carve out his place, the assignment is less a setback than a reminder of how crowded the Celtics roster can be early in a season. Maine gives Boston a chance to keep Cenac active and learning in real game situations, and his next step is set to come with the G League club as it prepares for a matchup with the Westchester Knicks. [Read more 🡒]