Paul George has agreed to a most four-year, $212 million contract to hitch the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early Monday.
George joins a 76ers staff that includes seven-time All-Star and 2023 MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star level guard Tyrese Maxey, the reigning NBA Most Improved Participant. The addition of George resets the stability of energy within the Japanese Convention, the place the 76ers search to hitch the champion Boston Celtics as contenders for the NBA title.
A 6-foot-8 wing, George stays one of many league’s premier two-way gamers at 34 years previous. He averaged 22.6 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation whereas capturing 47.1% from the sector and a career-high 41.3% from 3 final season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The transaction is probably the most vital of the NBA offseason since groups have been permitted to barter with gamers from different franchises beginning Sunday. George, a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA choice, opted out of the final year of his contract with the Clippers on Saturday. The Clippers introduced Sunday night that negotiations with Paul had failed and that he was not going to return to the staff.
Will George assist ship a title to Philadelphia?
Alongside Embiid within the publish and Maxey at level guard, George completes one of many NBA’s most formidable huge threes, although well being will stay a priority. George performed 74 video games in 2023-24, however hadn’t performed greater than 56 video games in any of his prior 4 seasons.
A knee damage derailed Embiid’s MVP protection final season, limiting him to 39 video games. Tormented by accidents all through his profession, Embiid has by no means performed greater than 68 video games in a single season and has performed in 51 video games or fewer in six of the ten seasons for the reason that 76ers chosen him with the No. 3 decide within the 2014 NBA Draft. If each can stay wholesome alongside Maxey — who’s expected to sign a max contract with Philadelphia as a restricted free agent — the 76ers challenge as one of many prime contenders for the NBA title.
What now for Clippers?
George spent 5 seasons with the Los Angeles alongside fellow All-Star Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers acquired George by way of a 2019 commerce with the Oklahoma City Thunder hoping that he and Leonard may ship the franchise’s first NBA title. Los Angeles despatched Oklahoma City a blockbuster bundle that included 5 first-round draft picks, two decide swaps, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s developed right into a two-time first-team All-NBA choice and MVP finalist.
With each stars suffering from accidents, the Clippers by no means made it to the NBA Finals. Their greatest effort with George and Leonard noticed the Clippers advance to the Western Convention finals in 2021, the place they misplaced to the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers made a number of reported strikes on the onset of free company Sunday, however none that may counter the departure of George. Los Angeles reportedly agreed to re-sign former MVP point guard James Harden along with reaching phrases with former Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr.
Additionally they reportedly agreed to terms with former Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr., who returns to the NBA following a one-year absence after dealing with home assault prices.
Per the Clippers, negotiations with Paul failed after months of negotiations. Wojnarowski reviews that the Clippers did not transfer off a suggestion of a three-year contract, whereas George desired the four-year deal he in the end agreed to with the 76ers.
