Report: 76ers Still Interested In Signing Paul George

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Philadelphia 76ers are still interested in signing Paul George. 

George can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

“Despite a recent report that Philadelphia’s interest in Paul George has cooled amid uncertainty about whether he’d go across the country and sign with Philadelphia in free agency, there remains significant interest from the 76ers in signing him as a free agent, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto reported. 

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Clippers in 2023-24 while shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 90.7% from the free-throw line.

LAC has until June 30 to sign George to an extension.

The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, while the Sixers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round. 

George and Kawhi Leonard joined the Clippers in the summer of 2019. LAC hasn’t been to the NBA Finals in franchise history. 

George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers. He was born and raised in Palmdale, California. 

“After signing Leonard to a three-year, $153 million extension during the season, that mark essentially set the standard for the Clippers in future negotiations with George, who the organization views as the team’s second-best player behind a healthy Leonard,” Scotto reported. “However, George is expected to command maximum contract offers from other teams on the free agent market, which puts the Clippers in a pickle. The franchise doesn’t want to upset Leonard, who took less than the maximum amount to extend with the Clippers but could lose George in the process if the organization doesn’t improve its current offer. 

“Further complicating matters is the belief that the Clippers haven’t offered George more than three seasons it signed Leonard to in current contract negotiations.”