Paul George Rumors: 76ers to 'Aggressively Pursue' FA After Clippers Contract Opt Out

The Philadelphia 76ers appear to be unleashing a full court press in the quest to get Paul George.

Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reported that the 76ers are "expected to aggressively pursue Paul George" and that the team is a "legitimate threat" to sign the nine-time All-Star away from Los Angeles.

George opted-out of his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season, which means that he will be an unrestricted free agent when the period opens June 30.

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The 76ers interest in George is not a new development. as the franchise has been a top contender for him all offseason. The Clippers will likely remain in play for George, as president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said the team would like to keep George but will respect his decisions.

Other teams linked to George include the Nuggets and Warriors, but heading to Philadelphia could be intriguing. The 76ers have made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons but have failed to advance past the second round during that stretch. Still, the roster contains Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and a weaker Eastern Conference could mean that the 76ers can potentially go on a run and not deal with a gauntlet like the Western Conference teams.

The 76ers have $116 million in second apron space, which means they could make quite the push for George and potentially add another player as well. This would put Philadelphia in the conversation with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks and could help George chase the elusive NBA Championship.