In contract negotiations with Paul George so far, the Clippers haven’t offered the star forward “a dollar more” than what they gave Kawhi Leonard earlier this year, league sources tell Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Like George, Leonard was eligible to receive up to $221MM over four years from Los Angeles, but Kawhi agreed to a three-year, $152MM deal.
As O’Connor writes, while it’s possible that the Sixers are being used for leverage purposes to encourage Los Angeles to increase its offer, sources around the league believe Philadelphia has a legitimate chance to land George as a free agent this summer. George is the 76ers’ “Plan A” in free agency, O’Connor continues, not only because he has the sort of star-level talent the team is seeking, but because his versatility and three-and-D prowess make him an ideal fit next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
O’Connor is somewhat skeptical that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, the richest team owner in American sports would let George walk in free agency over money. Still, he notes that if George wants to maximize his chances of competing for a title, Philadelphia might give him a better opportunity than the Clippers. Embiid is 30 years old and Maxey is just 24, whereas George’s Clippers co-stars Leonard and James Harden are 33 and 35, respectively.
Here’s more from O’Connor:
- If the Sixers are unable to land George and potential targets like Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler aren’t available, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram represents Philadelphia’s Plan B, sources tell The Ringer. O’Connor acknowledges that Ingram’s fit isn’t perfect, given his “durability concerns, defensive shortcomings, and offensive inconsistencies,” but suggests that Embiid and Maxey might be able to further unlock him. Ingram remains under contract for the 2024/25 season, so the 76ers would have to trade for him.
- O’Connor confirms a previous report from Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, stating that if the Sixers strike out on big-name targets in free agency and on the trade market, their plan is to sign players to short-term contracts like Indiana did with Bruce Brown last summer. The structure of Brown’s contract (a big first-year cap hit with a second-year team option) allowed the Pacers to use him as the primary salary-matching piece in the Pascal Siakam trade.
- League sources tell O’Connor that OG Anunoby, who can become an unrestricted free agent by declining his 2024/25 player option, is expected to ultimately remain with the Knicks. A prior report stated that Anunoby may test the open market.
If PG13 is morey plan A…he needs to get his head examined. I have little faith in Morey this off season
Agreed
Highly likely, Morey will waste the cap room. Do nothing
Likely, Morey will overpay free agents
76ers don’t have enough assets to acquire Butler or Ingram
Lakers, Wolves and Thunder can easily make better offers
How much do you actually think Ingram in particular would cost?
This is the price for Ingram
Hawks get Ingram
Pelicans get Dej Murray and a young sharpshooter AJ Griffin
Fair cost
Ingram for Murray straight up is fair value.
Who would your plan A be then ? …..
I’m surprised anyone has any faith in Morey…
I sure hope it’s leverage. I want no part of George in Philly.
George is everything Harris wasn’t my friend. Watch the game before commenting.
I’ll take the guy who actually plays basketball. In the past 5 regular seasons Harris has played 351 games while George has played 263.
Harris has been available every postseason, while George missed the entire playoffs 2 years in a row (2021-2022, and 2022-2023).
Def a lotta leveraging going on
Got to put Ballmer in a phone booth as much as you can if your team George – This is the last payday/ leverage Pg will ever have
* I see George staying w Lac on a 4 yr max
Clippers are unlikely to give him 4 years max
I agree that 76ers have no option but give him 4 years max
I’d be shocked if OG went anywhere else. He wanted to come to NY and considering his place and role with the team, I’m not sure it can or would get/be any better. Plus, they can always top any offer made.
Amazing that teams continue to chase over priced stars that are decline and that miss 1/3 of games. Nothing against PG personally but his days of making a team into a champion are gone – oh wait – he’s never done that
The NBA has set up rookie contracts and extensions so that over priced stars that are in decline are basically the only notable names to hit free agency
In five yrs with the Clippers. George has played 48, 54, 31, 56, 74 gms. He’s not worth 50 mill to me. I get George healthy on a Sixer team. Could get them to Finals. Even might win a ring. So Sixers probably pay him. Unfortunately the odds him playing are not good.
OG is staying. Knicks just need to get healthy. I’d love to see this team come back. Draft Edey. Have Thibs work his magic on him.
The player I would want most in a trade. Is Jalen Green. He’s a big 2 with big game. What would it take ??
I understand everyone’s take about him not being worth the money plus the age and injury concerns but I don’t see any other option for us.
Maxey and Embiid can’t do it by themselves. And in terms of adding a third star what you need is someone that can give you 20, can create his own shot, can shoot the 3 ball well, can defend at a good level and ideally someone with some experience aswell and PG literally ticks all the boxes.
In a perfect world I’d rather Kawhi cause he’s top tier defensively and his offence matches PG’s.
KD is too old, LeBron is old and not a shooter, Jimmy ain’t a shooter, old and been there done that with him. Tatum would be great but lacks some experience and there’s question marks over him being able to step up and preform. That’s just some of the best SF’s off the top of my head and none of which are available really….
So as much as I understand and hear the concerns there’s really no other option if your plan is to win built around your star player as Embiid. If you are scared of the injuries then you’re building around the wrong guy to begin with. And it’s to late now that I don’t see them trading Embiid and trying to restart or build around Maxey ….
I hope we get PG and if not DeRozan is my fall back guy aside from that it’s goodluck again next time
PG isn’t going to give you 20 on Philly. He’s going to be standing in the corner waiting for Maxey or Embiid to pass him the ball so he can chuck up a 3.
And then you’re like “oh Tatum would be great but”
What are you smoking?
At age 35, George will decline fast
Im hoping and praying he means Ingram, not Tatum. That would be a ridiculous assessment if he does mean Tatum
Y’all are stupid, as I said “these are just some of the top SF’s off the top of my head and none of which are available”
Can you keep a lead with Joel off the floor while george and Maxey are still on it. The answer is yes my friend. Thanks Darryl if you pull it off.
Look at the free agents in 2025. Literally a trash heap will actually be available as a UFA. Everyone that is decent will be extended. The POs, unlikely to decline.
This is it. This is the last hurrah. Last go at building a contender via FA during Embiids prime.
PG13 is the best player available in FA. It is what it is. Will he be good for at least 3 of the 4 years? If so pull the trigger. As much as it pains me. He isn’t my first option. But he is the best player that doesn’t necessitate a trade.
I would trade for Mikal Bridges, Sign Miles Bridges, sign Tyus Jones, Resign Batum and Oubre. I would have to consider $$ on the best shooter I could get of those that should be available starting with Buddy. But they have to renounce him to do all the other moves. If sign Drummond and draft a Center or PG.
Baller I feel your pain but this reboot starts with a mvp a young all star multiple first round picks and lots of cash. Surround Jojo with shooters Slip in a ring chasing Paul George or one more ring lebron and sit back.
Exactly what I tried saying above really. The championship window is open now while Embiid is in his prime and it’s looking like there’s only a 3/4 years window left, and that’s what they’ll offer PG.
After that it’s time for a rebuild. But no one will complain if you win. Look at Toronto they won with Lowry Kawhi Siakim then straight away Kawhi leaves and now they’ve just done a full rebuild with Siakim and OG gone and it’s only been like 3 years.
If Philly even makes the NBA final with a big 3 of Maxey PG and Embiid, I’d be happy and that should be the target for realistic fans.
Yea realistically, you’d then flow into the Maxey era. As long as they don’t max extend Embiid there’s hope for the future.
PG would be great for the 76ers if he was a decade younger…
They really need to focus on someone younger… Someone who could be there when Embiid is done and be a good side kick for Maxey or vice versa…
Embiid is a ticking time bomb… Sure that means you want to blow all the chips at one title like the Lakers did… But he’s no LeBron and has a long history of not being healthy when it matters most…