Paul George Rumors: 76ers Seen as 'Foremost Threat' to Sign Clippers Star to Contract

The Philadelphia 76ers are considered the "foremost threat" to the Los Angeles Clippers' efforts to re-sign forward Paul George.

Marc Stein reported the news on the latest #thisleague UNCUT podcast (20:45 mark).

"They are seen as the foremost threat on the NBA map to swipe Paul George away from the Clippers. The Orlando Magic also have to be in that conversation, but it's the 76ers who have the Clippers most concerned here, and I'm talking about long-term concerns..."

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Saturday that the Sixers "have envisioned" a trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, though he cautioned "some around the league wonder if George would be willing to relocate across the country to the colder weather and if the Sixers will be used as potential leverage during free agency negotiations."

The 34-year-old George just averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the 51-win Clippers, who earned the Western Conference's No. 4 seed but just fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs in six games. He has a player option for 2024-25 but can decline it to become a free agent.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that the organization's goal is to re-sign both George and impending free agent James Harden to run it back with Kawhi Leonard, who already inked a three-year contract extension with the team. So the 76ers, Magic and any other team after George should have some fierce competition in L.A.

The 76ers have max cap space to use with Tobias Harris becoming a free agent. And that target could very well be George, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst (h/t Brad Botkin of CBS Sports).

"I think Philly is going to come out with a max offer to Paul George," Windhorst said. "The Clippers are going have to decide max [contract for George] or not, and Paul George is going to have to decide, 'Do I want to stay [with the Clippers] or not.'"

We'll see where this all heads soon enough with free agency less than two months away, but PG-13 is a big name to watch on the free-agent market given the 76ers' desire to maximize Embiid's prime.