NBA Rumors: 76ers' Tyrese Maxey in Line for Max Contract amid Paul George Buzz

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey is on track to sign a maximum contract extension with the team this summer, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Charania said Wednesday on FanDuel TV's Run It Back that Maxey is "gonna be a maximum contract player this summer."

Teams typically want to reward young stars at the earliest opportunity, both as a show of faith and to avoid any headaches that could arise by that player hitting free agency.

In the case of the Sixers, however, they have a clear incentive in waiting to hand Maxey a new contract.

The 6'2" guard, who's eligible to become a restricted free agent, for now only has a $13 million cap hit on Philly's books for 2024-25. That gives the team a lot of financial flexibility, enough to pursue a major star. The Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George continues to be linked with the team.

Preserving Maxey's cap hold for as long as possible is the only way the Sixers can preserve enough space to sign a max-level free agent.

When the 23-year-old signs with Philly should be the only real variable after he has driven home his value to the team. He averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists during the regular season en route to winning Most Improved Player, and he has put up 32.4 points per contest in the first round against the New York Knicks.

Coming into 2023-24, there were some lingering questions over Maxey's ceiling. He made a major breakthrough in his second year but hadn't yet reached the next level.

James Harden's departure allowed Maxey to assume a larger role in the backcourt and he has thrived. The Sixers will have little choice but to put a max contract offer on the table when the time comes.