According to NBA reporter Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, “there are some who expect” Paul George to leave the Los Angeles Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers this summer.
George can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Clippers worth $48.8 million.
Should George enter free agency, the Sixers are expected to offer him a large contract.
The Clippers have until June 30 to sign George to an extension. They signed two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $149 million extension in January.
Many people around the NBA anticipated the Clippers to sign George to an extension after they extended Leonard. However, that hasn’t happened.
According to Pompey, the Clippers may be unwilling to match George‘s expectations for his next contract.
“He’s also eligible to sign an extension this season, but the two sides haven’t reached an agreement,” Pompey wrote. “The belief is that Los Angeles isn’t willing to match Paul George’s expectations for his next contract. Reports have circulated suggesting the Clippers’ offer is less than Leonard’s three-year, $149.7 million extension.”
The Sixers are “closely monitoring” George‘s situation with the Clippers, per Pompey. NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report also reported that the Sixers are expected to make George a significant offer if he becomes a free agent.
George is averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks this season while shooting 47.0% from the floor, 40.9% from beyond the arc and 89.7% from the free-throw line. The swingman is making $45.6 million.
Leonard and George have been teammates since 2019-20. The Clippers lost in the second round of the 2020 playoffs to the Denver Nuggets, fell in the 2021 Western Conference Finals to the Phoenix Suns, missed the postseason in 2022 and lost in the first round of the 2023 playoffs to the Suns.
George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers. The nine-time All-Star turns 34 in May.
If the Sixers acquired George, they would have a lethal “Big 3” of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
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