Paul George to the 76ers, The NBA offseason is heating up, and one of the biggest storylines is Paul George’s future. The 9-time All-Star has a $48.8 million player option with the LA Clippers, but rumors are swirling that he could leave for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
In this exclusive, in-depth report, we’ll analyze:
✔ Paul George’s contract situation
✔ Why the 76ers are aggressively pursuing him
✔ The Clippers’ last-ditch efforts to keep him
✔ How a George-Embiid-Maxey trio would change the East
✔ Latest insider intel from league sources
Let’s break down the biggest free agency domino of 2024.
Paul George’s Free Agency Decision: Opt-In, Re-Sign, or Leave?
Paul George faces three options before June 29, 2024:
-
Opt into his $48.8M final year with the Clippers
-
Sign a long-term extension with LA (4 years, $221M max)
-
Decline option, test free agency (76ers, Magic, Knicks in play)
Why He Might Leave the Clippers
-
Championship urgency – Clippers haven’t gotten past 2nd round with Kawhi
-
76ers can offer more years (4 years, $212M vs. Clippers’ 3-year limit)
-
Better fit with Embiid & Maxey than aging Kawhi Leonard
Why the Clippers Still Have Hope
-
Can offer slightly more money (221Mmaxvs.Philly’s212M)
-
Family settled in LA (real estate, business ventures)
-
New arena (Intuit Dome) opens in 2024-25
“The Clippers are preparing a final max offer, but Philly is the real threat.” – NBA NewsZ insider
Why the 76ers Are All-In on Paul George
Philadelphia has $65M in cap space and a clear plan:
✅ Pair George with Joel Embiid & Tyrese Maxey – Elite Big 3
✅ Fix their wing defense (ranked 22nd last season)
✅ Add playoff experience (George has 104 postseason games)
Potential 76ers Starting Lineup with PG13
-
PG: Tyrese Maxey
-
SG: Paul George
-
SF: Kelly Oubre Jr. (re-signed)
-
PF: Tobias Harris (if retained)
-
C: Joel Embiid
This lineup makes Philly instant title contenders.
The Clippers’ Last-Ditch Effort to Keep PG
Paul George to the 76ers, LA is reportedly offering:
-
3 years, $170M (slightly less than max but more than 76ers’ 4-year deal)
-
Pitch: “Retire a Clipper” legacy play
-
Promising more roster upgrades (trade targets?)
But sources say George is frustrated with:
❌ Kawhi’s durability issues (missed 12+ playoff games since 2021)
❌ Clippers’ lack of draft assets to improve
❌ No long-term security beyond 3 years
Dark Horse Teams to Watch
While Philly is the favorite, don’t rule out:
1. Orlando Magic
-
Need: Veteran scorer to pair with Banchero/Wagner
-
Cap space: $45M+ available
-
Sleeper threat if they offer 4-year max
2. New York Knicks
-
Could execute sign-and-trade (Julius Randle?)
-
Brunson-George-OG Anunoby would be scary
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
-
Longshot, but reunion with SGA would be fun
How a George-76ers Move Shakes Up the NBA
Paul George to the 76ers, If PG joins Philly:
✔ 76ers leapfrog Celtics as East favorites
✔ Clippers enter rebuild mode (Kawhi demands trade?)
✔ East arms race begins (Knicks, Bucks respond)
“This would be the biggest free agency move since KD to Warriors in 2016.” – ESPN’s Brian Windhorst
Latest Insider Intel (June 2024)
-
76ers meeting with George scheduled for July 1
-
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer personally involved in negotiations
-
Magic lurking as surprise suitor
-
Decision expected by July 4
Read More: Klay Thompson’s Next Team: Warriors, Magic, or a Dark Horse? The Definitive Free Agency Guide
Final Prediction
Paul George to the 76ers, After weighing all factors, our projection:
Paul George declines option, signs 4-year, $212M deal with 76ers.
“Philly offers the best mix of money, contention, and role—George wants to prove he can lead a title team without Kawhi.” – NBA NewsZ Senior Analyst
No comment