Clippers’ Paul George opts out for free agency amid 76ers interest. Here’s what we know
The Clippers star sent a shockwave through the NBA with his decision to opt-out, which has led to all kinds of possibilities, including a move to Philly.
With the 2024 NBA Draft now complete and free agency looming, we were always going to see movement, it was just a question of who and to where. The Clippers shooting guard has seemingly fulfilled the role of this year’s ‘biggest name in the market.’ Should the Sixers get their man, that would create a rather interesting scenario in Philadelphia.
Paul George opts out with 76ers interested
According to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul George is set to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and hit free agency. What that means is that the 34-year-old will forego the $48.7 million player option he is eligible for in order to liberate himself from the franchise. Suffice it to say, that George is now the hottest commodity on the market. Yet, it’s got to be said that the news is not entirely surprising when considering the fact that speculation about the nine-time All-Star’s future has been intense for weeks.
So, what happens now? As per ESPN, George is due to begin meeting with teams that have the requisite cap space on Sunday night. To that extent, it could be that he ends up staying with the Clippers though that seems unlikely given his decision to opt out in the first place. That brings us to the teams that have room which are at present the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Orlando Magic. Further reports have indicated that the 76ers are a “legitimate threat” to acquire George.
Should that prove to be the case, it would present the potential for a “Big Three” in Philly that could be formidable. Consider for a moment the idea of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and George all taking the floor together. As for what the 76ers would be getting? After 14 seasons in the NBA, there is no doubt that George is still a top-tier talent. In this most recent campaign, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes per game. It’s also worth noting that he registered career-bests in field goal percentage (47.1%) and three-point percentage (41.3%) which is to say, he’s got better with age. While there’s no official word on where George is going to end up, the circumstances are in place for an intriguing situation. Watch this space.