According to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, acquiring Paul George remains the Philadelphia 76ers' top priority this offseason.
“They're looking for another star player, but they also need a player who can fill a variety of roles,” O'Connor reported Sunday. “PG-13 is both, which is why a source familiar with Philadelphia's strategy says he's the team's Plan A in free agency.”
Additionally, he pointed to previous reports that Philadelphia is thought to have a “real chance” to sign George.
The nine-time All-Star may choose to stay in Southern California as the Los Angeles Clippers have yet to deliver the championship they have craved since acquiring him and Kawhi Leonard.
But there appears to be a very real divide between the two parties over money.
Leonard already committed his future to the team with a three-year, $149.7 million contract extension, which was significantly less than what he could have earned on a full max contract ($223 million over four years).
The deal was also notable for what it meant for George.
“Rival teams and agents are making the deal under the impression the Clippers are not keen on paying Leonard any guaranteed money beyond the three-year term of his contract, which runs through 2026-27, sources said,” Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported last Thursday.
Spotrac projects the Sixers have $55.5 million in effective salary-cap space and could spend up to $72.8 million, allowing Philadelphia to sign George or another high-profile free agent directly.
The 34-year-old is not only a top-tier player, but also one who can sit comfortably alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and his versatility extends to his on-court game as well, allowing him to be a scorer, playmaker or more of a complementary off-ball shooter depending on the situation.
George is averaging 20.8 points and 3.7 assists for his career while shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range.
Any deal of this magnitude comes with risks, but in George's case, his durability has long been a concern: He missed just eight games in 2023-24, but failed to play 60 games in any of the four seasons prior to that.
But it's hard to imagine the Sixers realistically being able to make any further upgrades this offseason.
