On the same day that the Pistons made a huge commitment towards Ausar Thompson, the Jazz also locked up rising guard Keyonte George on a very similar contract. Both signed for 5 years; Thompson will be making $155 million over the contract and George $157.5 million. These deals could look like bargains for both players by their peak years, and it makes George a trade candidate to watch for Detroit.
George would be an awesome backcourt mate for Cade Cunningham
After a rough first two seasons in the NBA, George exploded onto the scene last season with nearly 24 points per game while shooting career-best efficiency from every area of the court. He shot 46% from the field, 37% from three and 89% from the free-throw line while creating many of his own looks. 58.5% of his made shots were unassisted, which shows a good balance of self-creation and working off others.
With that versatile offensive skillset, George would be a great addition in Detroit as a secondary scorer and playmaker. The Pistons know they will likely need to add offensive help to take another step, but have yet to make that flashy move. George could fit that role beautifully, even if he doesn't have the same household name as other options around the league.
George isn't a natural point guard but is generally undersized compared to the game's best shooting guards, which can make him a tough fit on most teams. But Cade Cunningham neutralizes his weaknesses by bringing massive size and incredible playmaking at the point guard position. Playing next to Cade, George could focus on guarding smaller players and scoring the ball.
And score he can. George is a good outside shooter with enough quickness and tough shot-making in the midrange to make defenses pay for overplaying him outside. This was most apparent in his performance against the Pistons in December when he had 31 points and 8 assists, all with guys like Thompson, Cunningham and Ron Holland II guarding him.
The Jazz might have one big reason to trade George
For all the praises I've been singing of George, the Jazz could still find a reason to move on from him if he's not able to co-exist with Darryn Peterson. Peterson was just drafted to Utah 2nd overall and is one of the most touted guard prospects in years. He also happens to play the same position as George but with more talent.
If having George and Peterson on the same team proves redundant, the Jazz could entertain trade offers for George in coming years. It's unlikely to happen right away, but the Pistons should keep him on their radar as a long-term pairing next to Cade if Utah's backcourt gets too crowded. And with his reasonable contract, the Pistons could fit him into their team without too much trouble.
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