From Globe.com

By Gary Washburn

Paul George is entering his 17th NBA season and been the subject of increased scrutiny as his career has progressed. He’s also been part of two of the league’s more controversial trades in the past decade.

So he fully understands his stint in Boston will come with expectations and also skepticism. There are several questions hovering over his acquisition and many have nothing to do with Jaylen Brown, for whom he was traded by the 76ers.

If the 2019 version of George was here in Boston, there would be a high level of excitement. He was once one of the league’s best players, earning first-team All-NBA in that 2018-19 season, his final year with Oklahoma City.

But years with the underachieving Clippers followed by an injury-prone, two-year stint in Philadelphia, marred by a 25-game drug policy suspension, hindered George’s reputation and created doubts about whether his best basketball was behind him.

An encouraging sign for the Celtics was their painful 4-3 loss to the 76ers in a first-round series they led, 3-1. It was when a well-rested and healthy George burned the Celtics with stellar defense and 55 percent shooting from the 3-point arc. He made 22 of 40 shots from 3-point range and it was honestly difficult to remember George missing 18.

On Tuesday, George addressed the local media officially for the first time, showing reverence to the departed Brown but also making an important declaration about his health. It’s been 10 weeks since the trade and there had been no reassurance besides a couple of posted practice videos that George was mentally and physically healthy.

George went through a lot in Philadelphia, where he was expected to be the No. 3 option behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. It never worked out that way. George’s knees wouldn’t allow it and he played in 78 games over two years before the playoff series against the Celtics.

George got an opportunity in that series to display the type of player he still is — when healthy.

“The past couple years have been rough from a physical standpoint, and obviously that weighs on you mentally when you feel or you want to do things that you know your body has a limitation to,” he said. “I feel great. I feel really good, physically. I’ve worked hard this summer. My body has naturally just healed.

“Just the time that I took off, leading up to coming back [for the playoffs], my body was in such a different place. And then going into the summer really was a chance to continue to work and strengthen my body, strengthen my knee.

“So it’s almost like a kind of rebirth or reborn again to be in a system, be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good, be able to work. A lot went into coming into Boston with a different mind-set, different mentality, and it’s again all of this just comes naturally. You come into this building and it just hits you like you’re here to work, you’re here to get better, and I’m kind of carrying that.

George said all the right things in the 30-minute session. He expressed a, at least temporary, peace of mind about his health, his desire to make this stop the right one.

“I’m coming in with that attitude, that mentality of being the best version for myself. And again, I’m ready. Feel this is the timing for me, and I’m all in.”

Every time I see an older star is “Finally healthy and ready to go” it seems a given that they’re going to get hurt less than a month into the season, in whatever sport you care to name

TBH I think PG will be fine. Unless we’re talking about a freak injury or something nagging like a hammy

, the Celtics conditioning staff

has had a pretty good track record of keeping players healthy when it’s within their control. Add in the fact that he’s going to be on some of the lowest usage of his career, I’m optimistic that we can manage him pretty well through the season.

He doesn’t push the Celtics into contender status by any means but if he can help space the floor

and stick to the plan down the stretch (honestly one of the biggest issues with JB over the years) I think he’ll be fine with the roster we have.

what more can you ask? hoping for the best

Paul George shocks reporters by saying, “I’m 37, I’ll try my best but I’m way past my prime”. Adding, “I’m for sure going to get injured. Are you guys really sure you want me out there?”

I wonder if it would be fair to say that the young wings that we are developing will gain from being exposed to a pros pro like George. Hes pretty much seen it all, rehabbed back from a huge injury, been the man at some points in his career etc… if he can bestow some valuable advice and wisdom on the young uns it might end up being an unforseen benefit of him joining the club.

The same guy who said he always wanted to be a clipper…

What was he suppose to say?

Also, he’s going to be a solid consolation prize for dodging JB’s max extension

If he stays healthy and can show up playing well in a niche role then the Celts should have a solid season. They’re still a well coached team with a great bench, a starting lineup with experience and two studs with DW and JT. They’re not a 1 seed but they’re still a top 5 team in the east. Joe his staff has also shown to be great at developing young talent so I’d expect to see Baylor, Hugo, and Queta make a small leap.

I’d also expect to see a few moves made before the trade deadline.

I think a lot of people are ready to throw them in trash and in with the play in teams, and like last year, are greatly underrating them.

Best version at 37?

Doubtful.

I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not mad at Paul George. It’s not his fault. He’s a solid player and seems like a decent guy. I just can’t separate him from the deal that brought him here.

oh great

He better be

Player vows like this mean nothing to me. They’ve all shown themselves to be about the money. The only vow I’d ever believe would be about their vow to do what is in the best interest of their bank account or personal health. Anything else has way more than enough historical evidence to be disregarded.

Celtics Shaq? Out.

Celtics PG? In.

(Hopefully he doesn’t suck tho, maybe PG Celtics can be the opposite of Celtics Shaq?)

Best of luck old man. 🍀

What was he supposed to say…He’s going to be 37 in May, over the last 7 years has played in 57% of his teams game averaging 48 games a year. Don’t fool yourself into thinking Paul George will be fine…or any other silly notion you have convinced yourself to believe so that the trade somewhat makes sense, because it dosen’t. Since he was traded to the Clippers he has been in a downward trajectory and that isn’t going to stop because he is in Boston, age and injuries have caught up to him. Here is what Paul George represents, he will be an expiring contract after this year, and then the Celtics should be able to offload him and his final year at a reasonable cost. Depending on whether they take a player back or it’s a straight salary dump the Celtics would be looking at a first round pick and maybe a second to maybe a couple of second round picks. Possible a young player and a first. But the cost to dump George’s final year will be substantially cheaper than it is today. So for now the Celtics will eat this year and hope for a mid playoff spot. But please don’t fool yourself into thinking this team can contend for anything. Playoff spot, first round exit will most likey be what we get this year.

I mean this should be the baseline for any professional athlete

We’ve become the Over the Hill Gang…

longwood tennis club

For $55m/year, yeah……. He needs to be the 2nd option

Or else, why did he get medically cleared with the trade??!

If you swap JT in JBs place last year and changed nothing else, are we better?

If you believe the answer is no, peace be with you.  Carry on and may you find joy somewhere in this life.

If you believe the answer is yes, then we are likely better this year ignoring the improvement to bigs, growth of young players, etc.

If PG can go 75-85% of games, and be 80% of PG max, we’ll likely be better than we were at the end of last year with JT working back and JB in stride.

Same dude who calls himself “Playoff P” and got destroyed by Dame in the Portland series in his MVP candidate season and choked against the Nuggets the following year at the Bubble. I stopped caring about this guy after that Dame shot. He’s just a walking meme at this point of his career.

Nah, I ain’t taking Paul George seriously until he really proves it.

and we’ll all get $5,000 from the president

This man ain’t making it to christmas

I still can’t believe we’re expected to be excited about 36 year old Paul George and a season that will, in the best case, end with a playoff loss.

Gonna play 37 games, yay.

lol dudes washed what a joke.

Clippers front office reading this: You say that NOW????

I’m only excited for the minutes freed up for our young guys.

What’s the O/U on games played? 50?

The best version of 37 year old PG is probably 37 good games.

As long as Joe uses his bench, and not playing Tatum, and PG a million minutes per game, I think health shouldn’t be an issue.