The Sixers are signing star free agent forward Paul George to a four-year, maximum-salary contract worth nearly $212MM, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The fourth year of the deal will be a player option.
George will return to the Eastern Conference for the first time since being traded from the Pacers to the Thunder in 2017, joining a Sixers team led by former MVP Joel Embiid and reigning Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey.
According to Wojnarowski, George and his agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA met with a contingent of Sixers officials – including team owner Josh Harris, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, executive VP of basketball operations Peter Dinwiddie (a former Pacers executive and a friend of George), and GM Elton Brand, along with franchise legend Julius Erving – and committed to Philadelphia.
The Sixers, Clippers, and Magic entered Sunday expected to be in the running for George, but all the momentum seemed to be in Philadelphia’s favor, with the Clippers formally bowing out of the running and Orlando committing a significant chunk of its cap room to another player (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope).
The Clippers released a statement earlier Sunday announcing the Los Angeles native would be departing his hometown team to sign with another club, explaining that the two sides were “far apart” in negotiations and citing the challenges of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Clippers originally acquired George in the summer of 2019 in a trade that sent out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and several first-round picks and swaps to the Thunder. The Clippers brought in George and Kawhi Leonard, who was fresh off winning a title with the Raptors.
George earned three All-Star nods in his five seasons with the Clippers, averaging 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest across 263 games with the franchise. While the Clippers never wound up winning a title with George on the team, he did help lead the franchise to its first-ever Western Conference Finals appearance in 2020/21.
The Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year, $152MM contract extension during the season, but they couldn’t agree to a deal with George as the season wound to a close. As explained earlier Sunday, the Clippers are being cautious about handing out contracts longer than three years given the restrictions the second apron imposes.
Since the Clippers didn’t feel comfortable giving George more money or years than they gave Leonard, the star forward declined his open to reach the open market. Now, he’s going to be a Sixer, and the Clippers will continue turn to other targets in free agency. They’ve already reached contract agreements with Derrick Jones Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. in addition to striking a deal to bring back James Harden.
George holds career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 867 career NBA games. At 34 years old, George is cashing in one last huge multiyear payday, teaming up with Embiid and Maxey in the hopes of raising the Sixers’ standing within the Eastern Conference hierarchy.
Besides agreeing to terms with George, Philadelphia has also reached deals with Andre Drummond, Kelly Oubre, and Eric Gordon during the early part of free agency.
As our breakdown of maximum salaries for 2024/25 shows, George will earn $49,205,800 in the first year of his max deal, with 5% annual raises after that, for a total of $211,584,940 across the next four years. It’s a massive investment in a player who has an injury history (he appeared in more than 56 games in a regular season just once in his time in L.A.) and who will turn 38 before the contract expires.
All to lose to the Knicks in the 2nd round
they barely beat us this year with our best player playing with one leg & half a face
And we had no Randle and just added Bridges
Are you under the impression that the Knicks were healthy? Missing Randle, Robinson missed a game and was not 100% when he played, lost Bojan in game 4, and OG was not 100%, either. iHart was also banged up. Also they won 4-2 and didn’t need a Game 7. “barely beat us” lmao
Randle is a detriment and should be moved ASAP and Let’s be real iHart is much better than Mitch. Look love what Knicks have done and they have a very good Boston ready team.
But be real, PG is better than Bridges, no argument, he has him beat in all categories except age. But Brunson is better than Maxey. The big thing is if 76ers have a fit Embiid…. And now a fit PG. if they’re both fit, along with Maxey and a good role cast. ignoring play off history Philly should beat everyone not named Boston. But we know Philly so don’t expect it!
“Randle is a detriment and should be moved ASAP ”
This is not true and would be an incredibly dumb thing for the Knicks to do at this point.
Randle is 100% a detriment. He’s a ball hog stat padder that looses his mind come the post season. Short of one good year back in 2020 he’s a terrible 3pt shooter that still chucks 6+ a game. If you want him in the play offs be ready for him taking the ball out of Brunson and Bridges hands and shoot a very embarrassing 40% and even worse 30% from
3. He’ll eat clock, take 30 shots finish with 18 pts on 3 assists and 3 turnovers and have some people think he played well. If he was valuable he would have been moved long ago, No one wants him for this reason.
Again if he is still on that team they’ll fail. They have a chance now. They don’t need a walk in star. Move him to someone like Pistons for Ivey and improvement role players or any other team needing to fix their regular season. Or even take a swing on Lavine, even he is a better option. Accept Brunson is the key and Randle will stifle that.
This is just wrong. Randle is a solid scorer and rebounder, he’s just not a true star and was being asked to be one. Now he’s the Knicks 4th or 5th option which makes them very deep and potent.
He’s not a cancer like a Hardin or Durant. He can’t carry a team to a championship but now he doesn’t need to. As to George – at this stage of their careers Bridges is a better pick up.
4th or 5th ?? Put it down it’s to early for doobie.
Get Randle’s numbers in line…20+ppg, 10+rpg, 5+apg. Taking the ball out of their hands? He’s placing 5-6 assists in average and hits triple doubles.
Sprinkle in Bridges with Brunson, OG, and Randle and you basically can’t double team anyone since they can all score inside and out.
Do you actually watch this game or just play video games and think you know something?
Why would you double OG or Randle Or Bridges. Really need to start watching more than 3 games a year friend.
Amateur.
@JW – PG is not what he was on D and Bridges has him in that category. Bridges also has played how many games consecutively vs. PG?
Being the court matters more than being good hypothetically on paper.
Knicks gag year after year. Talk smack when you win something
Huh? When have the Knicks, until now, had enough talent to be considered competitors? This is a prerequisite for gagging.
Weak reply
@King Buddha- You never provide a real in-depth argument, you just attack others’ opinions with comments like “do you even watch basketball?” It makes me wonder if you even watch basketball.
Jojo on one leg. Go back to bed mommy wakes you up soon for daycare.
Lemme just reply here… firstly @tuck I agree Bridges is a better pick up to PG. dont change the fact he had better stats across the board. Including on D last year guys…… but still Randle.. a “solid scorer” don’t show up and hit 40% from the floor in Post season and less than 30% from 3 while taking the most shots on the team. Hes a star padder who can’t show up when it matters. FACTS.
@padman might need to check your PLAYOFF stats 3.6 ass to 3.5 tov. Like I said good season stat player. But poor when it matters. He want to be #1 which will kill any progress when Jalen is clearly the main guy. Keep Randle and watch every team let him put up bricks. There’s a reason this post looked better than the last couple. He brings down that team. Also regard the D comment, George is still contributing more than most if not all in his position. Not saying he’s the best in the world but anyone with eyes has to admit he’s still playing AS level ball 2-way. Like I said he bests precious Bridges in every single category LY. Plus, don’t forget one of the greatest shooters all time. Still not keen on the risk but to bet on it RN Embiid/PG/Maxy(IF FIT) beat Knicks in 7. Even though they’re a better balanced team(without Randle)*exhale*. Also FWIW not a 76er or Knicks fan just a fan that won’t be bias.
Sorry memory blank 3.7 assists to 3.9 tov.
I’m not a Randle fan at all, but look at the numbers when OG arrived. Sprinkle in Bridges and Brunson now has more options to pass around. Randle is horrible for forcing the play, but was also of the mindset that he had zero help in the days when he was alone and the only option. He made adjustments when OG arrived and hopefully adjust to the extra help he’s getting.
@Padam* it’s not like he never had help it’s that he never chose to use the help. In his head he is Kobe. It’s not about sprinkles and compliments. He’ll never accept 3rd option. Best move is the ship him out and get a solid 5 and SG as a return.
Should Knicks get a chance, try and get Capala. If ATL think they’re not a lotto team yet, they might be slow enough to take the swing on JR.
Wow Buddha, good one. It’s like you totally don’t get your “insults” straight from Google…
4 years $212 million!!!! Paul George is getting a big time bag! Philadelphia 76ers are going to compete for a championship!
both knicks and sixers can add a million superstars, sell out every night, win 60 games in the regular season and they’ll still lose to a small market tm like indiana in the playoffs
You mean the same Knicks team that had most of the team hurt and it still took the Pacers to game 7? That same team?
the same team that spent 7 games flopping like idiots, and whining about fouls to the refs. the same team that had atleast the first 2 games handed to them on a platter by the officials. the same team that was annihilated at home in msg in game 7. the same team that got outplayed by bench players like tj mconnell and obi toppin and aaron nemhard. that same team. knicks thought they were the 96 bulls after going up 2-0 lol. 20,000 fans chanting F you reggie hahaha. who’s chanting now? knicks are a bunch of fake thug crybaby b*tches who havent been as far as the ECF in a quarter of a century. stop making excuses. accept the L and the mediocrity.
Trust the process lol
Good trade chip. Wonder if morey will have the patience to wait until next off-season to flip him for a player he actually wants.
I’d like to repost.
By mid season, Podcast P and/or Jojo will get injured ……. returning in time for the playoffs, but will be hobbled enough for a 1st or 2nd round exit.
Book it.
How about shove it.
Thanks Dano
Are you really a stepson?
Maxey PG and Embiid sound great on paper but that sorta where it ends. At 34 and with previous injury history coupled with Joel and all his injury history aswell it’s really only giving us a 2 year window max and after that it’ll be 1 year of ouch and then an expiring deal.
Almost as if Morey knows that and hence why all our other deals are 2 years long.
I think PG is a terrific fit with our two stars already, we needed a wing/forward with some experience who can shoot and defend. I do worry that you might need more than just the three. We have good depth with recent signings Gordon Oubre and Drummond and should only get better but other teams such as the Knicks and Celtics have 4/5 genuine all star starters and alright depth. I hope Daryl doesn’t stop with the signings and we just load up the depth chart in preparation for a potential future trade.
Overall as a Sixers fan I’m happy and I feel like we do have a chance at something but I wouldn’t say I’m confident on anything
Hope Lowry returns next that would be awesome. PF is the big hole on the team, Tuerean Prince would fill that and is attainable.
After that, Danuel House, TJ Warren and Patty Mills will do nicely.
Lowry Maxey PG Prince Embiid
Mills Gordon Oubre House Drummond
McCain Council Warren Reed Bona
Prince is a 6′ 6″ small forward. He averaged 2.9 rebounds last year in 27 minutes a game. Try again.
They will be paying Paul George $50+ million a year into his late 30s. It makes them better but that is a huge cost.
Dr. J was part of the recruiting? No wonder he signed there.
I’d like to think that the max contract played the biggest role, in PG signing there.
Woah….getting paid. Still plays high level both ends but, that’s a bag at his age. I think PG will be good for Philly.
It’s a little strange to me that a team getting ready to play in a new arena, and who just re-signed Kawhi Leonard, would get so hung up on the fourth year. Will be interested to see how the Clippers approach this season now.
I was dead wrong. I thought he would go to warriors.
It isn’t the be all, end all since PG didn’t stay in Clipperland. Clippers can sign Derozen.
Sixers and Knicks going gangbusters trying to take the conference.
They are trying to catch up to the Celtics.
Well…. the Sixers are two for three now
They signed
Paul George
Kelly Oubre Jr
Now just go and get Klay Thompson
Make it three for three
Or make it four for four can’t forget Andre Drummond
All the haters out lefty as the sixers catch up quick . Guess what lefty they aren’t nearly done yet.
Max money to a guy that’s never helped a team win anything, is injured 1/3 of the time, and has declining skills and athleticism. You’d think they might have learned from the Hardin fiasco that chasing fading stars never works.
Knicks and Celtics just shrugged.
you forget who their GM is now lol
Agreed. Thought the 76ers are in a great position. Would be better if the 76ers just filled in their roster with excellent role players such DJJ. Now the 76ers have put their whole future all in the hands of Paul George who is 34 years old. Wasn’t necessary.
Tuck it tuck.
The Philly Cardboard Boxes….. over under 15 games that all three of Embiid, PG, and Maxey are on the floor together? lol
Atleast 76er fans have a young durable Maxey who’s turning into a star they can come and watch every night because most likely won’t see Embiid and PG very much…and good thing they got Oubre back and signed Drummond those will be the starters for the playoffs…best course of action for the Sixers is for Embiid and George to get “injured” a month before the playoffs so they can rest up and not actually be injured when the playoffs start
Been there. Done that.
Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work for both.
That is pathetic. Go away.
$212 million for 212 games. 34 years old. Clips knew.
This is the right move for the Sixers. Basically replacing a max contract Tobias Harris with a max contract PG who is better in every way except availability (and not by that much even then). It is a gamble that PG and Embiid will both be on the court and at mostly full health come playoffs, but honestly? They already had that gamble with Embiid. Doubling down while increasing the ceiling isn’t a bad move for them. Since they just signed Maxey to a max, they’re pot committed, but it’s not like they can’t move PG with a pick or two in a couple years to retool if they need to. They’ve already started rebuilding the bench with Drummond returning and Oubre re-signing in addition to Paul Reed, and they still have room to make more moves. The Sixers know what they’re about.
It’s also a question of “what else were they going to do?” KCP is a good all-around player, but he doesn’t elevate them that much. Klay is well past his best. S&Ts cap teams out too much for big money teams like the Sixers and most of their viable trade partners. LeBron was never going to Philly. OG wasn’t likely to move and he wasn’t going to move the needle enough, plus he’s also injury-prone. DeMar is a good player, but defensively skilled, he is not. Nobody else was all that good, relatively, that or the Sixers already had a guy at their best position (Maxey vs Trae/Dejounte, Embiid locking down the Center spot).
My thoughts exactly. It’s not a move you exactly want to make, but the alternatives were much worse and fans would’ve freaked if the Sixers did nothing with their window being now with Embiid for better or worse.
I will sum up everything you said in 2 words Complete nonsense.
Sixers never learn. Same strategy putting 3 stars together and hoping it will work.
The irony is it did work, once, and they failed to keep the team together.
That was pre this admin. This is the first realtime they are actually committed to a big 3. We’ll see if it works