Haynes: Paul George to Be Pursued by 76ers If Clippers Can't Reach Long-Term Contract

The Philadelphia 76ers plan to pursue Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George if he's unable to agree upon a contract extension with his current team.

TNT Sports' Chris Haynes reported the latest news on Bleacher Report Thursday.

"If Paul George and the Clippers are unable to get an extension done, look for the 76ers to be very aggressive in trying to pursue him in the offseason...Paul George would definitely be a target of the Philadelphia 76ers if [he] is not able to get an extension done with the Clippers. Everybody expects Paul George and the Clippers to get something done—again, they want to go in that new arena with their full core intact, but if not, watch out for the 76ers, they're not done."

George can become a free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option.

However, as Haynes noted, the expectation is for George and the Clippers to reach a deal. ESPN's Brian Windhorst notably reported on the Feb. 5 edition of The Hoop Collective (49:22 mark) that George and the Clippers are talking about an extension, with the expectation that a contract will be reached to keep him in L.A. through the rest of his prime years.

George, who turns 34 in May, just made his ninth All-Star team. He's averaging 22.3 points on 45.6 percent shooting (40.3 percent from three), 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Naturally, there's going to be interest in his services if it all falls through with Los Angeles.

The 76ers seem like a good fit in that regard. George could form a new big three with reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid and breakout superstar guard Tyrese Maxey. He'd help take the scoring pressure off the rest of the team if Embiid was out with an injury as well. Plus, the Eastern Conference is loaded with star power and talent, and adding someone like George certainly helps Philadelphia compete against the best the league has to offer.

But simply put, the Clippers would be wise to keep their current core intact. L.A. has gone 26-6 in its last 32 games to move to 34-16 overall, just one half-game back of first place in the Western Conference. The Clippers are legitimate title contenders led by Kawhi Leonard, George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Leonard is already staying in L.A. through 2027 after signing a three-year, $153 million extension. TNT Sports' Chris Haynes reported in January that Harden wants to re-sign with the team. Westbrook made a huge financial sacrifice to remain in L.A., agreeing to a two-year, $8 million deal with a 2024-25 player option.

And with the Clippers opening a new arena next year (Intuit Dome), L.A. is going to want to be as competitive as possible upon its introduction. That would mean retaining George, who's played an integral role in turning the franchise into a legit NBA championship contender.