A report last week suggested the Sixers‘ interest in acquiring Clippers star Paul George has “waned,” but sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that Philadelphia still has “significant interest” in signing George if he opts for free agency.
George, the number one name on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents, has until Saturday to decide whether to exercise his $48.8MM option for next season. If George is unable to reach an extension agreement with L.A. by then, he can either decline the option and test free agency or opt in and demand a trade.
George has long been considered an offseason priority for Philadelphia, which has the ability to create more than $60MM in cap room. The Magic are among the teams that are also expected to pursue George if he reaches the open market.
Sources inform Scotto that a trade for Heat forward Jimmy Butler remains a viable option for the Sixers if they can’t acquire George. Butler spent most of the 2018/19 season in Philadelphia before being traded to Miami and has maintained a strong relationship with Joel Embiid.
Another option, according to Scotto, could be a “short-term, higher market average annual salary” deal with Knicks free agent forward OG Anunoby. Scotto also hears the Sixers may also offer Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a two-year contract similar to what Bruce Brown got last year, with a large salary for next season and a team option for 2025/26.
There’s more on the Sixers, all courtesy of Scotto:
- Sources tell Scotto that Philadelphia has less interest in trading for Bulls guard Zach LaVine now that Alex Caruso can no longer be part of the deal. Caruso was shipped to Oklahoma City on Friday in a trade for Josh Giddey. The Sixers are reluctant to take on the three years and $138MM left on LaVine’s contract without other assets attached.
- Tyrese Maxey is considered virtually certain to sign a max extension this summer, but Klutch CEO Rich Paul may want something in return for waiting a year while the team worked to maximize its cap space, Scotto adds. He suggests Paul might ask for a player option on the final year of Maxey’s next contract, along with a 15% trade kicker.
- With Buddy Hield possibly departing in free agency, Scotto sees Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter as a potential replacement in the draft. He notes that Walter has a 6’10” wingspan and is considered a much better perimeter defender than Hield.
IMO
George is likely to opt out and becomes a free agent
If George opt out, July 5 is the key date to make decision
George can change his mind on July 5
Rumors – SNT
76ers get George
Clippers get Tobias Harris, #16
my Questions
How much would Clippers offer Harris?
Can Clippers get trade player exception?
Harris is a UFA. Not sure how you can trade a UFA player unless signed, then ask the question how much they’d offer if he needed to sign in order for a trade to take place.
You think this through? Bizarro world.
I still do not understand why anyone would want to go the 76ers? They have no clue how to build a contender and prove it time and time again.
Trust the process
The fact that you do not understand is the reason your ridiculous comment should be self muted.
And the Clippers do? And the Knicks do? What have they won exactly? What finals did they appear during this millennium? Fact is, there’s 26-28 teams that have problems getting a championship team out there.
This summer Butler is unlikely to join the 76ers but has a chance on trade deadline
Butler is likely to be traded by December if no contract extension
Disagree with offering short term contracts for OG and KCP
They both are looking for long term contracts
KCP is 31 years old
They don’t have a choice in the offer, only their response.
Wow, so we went from 76ers are getting Paul George, LeBron James, and others to now we have to offer KCP well over market value to use up our cap space. This is like the Knicks five years ago when they had to hand out above market deals to Portis, Elfrid Payton, Taj Gibson, and Reggie Bullock instead of getting Kyrie and Durant
I think it’s the fall back. If we can’t get a top tier player, then surround Maxey and Embiid with role players we can trade or dump and try again next year. I’d rather trade for a player that can play more than fifty games then sign injury prone vets to pair with our injury prone vet. I know it’s all about maximizing Embiid’s best years but what’s the point if the player we sign can’t even suit up with him? They going to alternate days off at least?
Until I see PG or any other big LA name sign I’m just gonna assume the sixers are being used for leverage because of their cap space to force GMs to upgrade their rosters.
Why should waiting a year have mattered? He’ll get the same size contract regardless. Tell Paul to kick rocks.
I have tempered my expectations.
I think they will shift focus to trading for Lauri or Mikal. If they can’t get either, they will shift to Murray or Grant,.if the compensation is right. I think they may sign some 2 year deals, and try to keep enough ammo to swing a deal at the deadline or next off-season.
They need a PG, backup PG, Wings, PFs, and backup Center.
I would prefer they get some playoff experienced role players in here.
If the Sixers get no one, literally no one, and I mean even the elite role players, do you entertain a Joel Embiid trade and restart the rebuild around Maxey?
Swallow your balls.
Lauri is a perfect fit with Joel and I think Reed and picks will get it done. The rest you spend on shooters. It’s a simple formula. Surround Jojo with shooters .