Paul George Rumors: Clippers, 76ers, Magic Meetings Planned After Contract Opt Out
After declining his $48.7 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers, veteran forward Paul George plans to meet with a handful of teams in free agency.
Per The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania, George plans to meet with the Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.
Charania reported that George will begin meetings late Sunday night after free agency begins.
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Both the 76ers and Magic have been linked to George even before he opted out of his contract. TNT and Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported Saturday that Philadelphia is "expected to aggressively pursue" George and is a "legitimate threat" to pull him away from the Clippers.
The Magic were also reportedly eyeing George long before the postseason was over.
But the Clippers will likely be looking to hold on to George to keep their championship window open following a disappointing first-round exit against the Dallas Mavericks. Depending on how much George is seeking in a deal, though, it could be hard for Los Angeles to outbid the 76ers or Magic.
The Clippers gave Kawhi Leonard a three-year, $153 million extension in January, and giving another aging, injury-riddled star could be ill-advised, especially considering Los Angeles didn't find much success with its current group last season.
At 34 years old, George is looking to prove he still has more left in the tank and help a team contend for a championship. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last year—far from his best season, but still a solid showing overall.
The 76ers are seemingly one piece away from being a Finals contender, and George could be that missing piece alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The Magic showed tremendous growth this season, reaching the postseason and taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games, but are still likely a move or two away from being a championship-caliber team. Pairing a veteran like George next to a rising star in Paolo Banchero could pay dividends in the long run.
