Paul George Rumors: 76ers 'Would Leap at the Chance' to Sign Clippers Star in NBA FA

The Philadelphia 76ers would reportedly "leap" at the chance to sign Paul George if the All-Star swingman is unable to reach a long-term contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported George is among the top targets for the Sixers as they explore how to use their max cap space this summer.

The Clippers already locked up Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $152.3 million contract extension in January. George was viewed as the next in line to land a similar deal, but three months have passed without an agreement. The nine-time All-Star can be an unrestricted free agent in July and will likely land the last major long-term deal of his career at age 34.

The Clippers also have to contend with the impending free agency of James Harden, whose performance has been inconsistent in his first year in Los Angeles.

The Sixers traded Harden to the Clippers earlier this season but acquired no long-term contracts in the deal. Their breakup with Harden was rooted in president of basketball operations Daryl Morey's refusal to hand Harden a long-term contract. Instead, Morey prioritized salary flexibility with this offseason as a target to land a co-star next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Morey's time with cap space is finite. Maxey is due a new max contract this offseason that would wipe out Philly's cap flexibility for the foreseeable future. The Sixers will also have to ask Maxey to wait to sign a new contract until they're able to fill out the remainder of their roster to keep his cap hold artificially low.

George is by far the best player who could become available in the open market. If he decides to stay in Los Angeles, the overwhelming odds are that Morey will attempt to acquire a third star via trade before dipping into the lower end of the free-agent pool.