Clippers Fear This Team ‘Most’ As Paul George Suitor

The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a significant threat to the Los Angeles Clippers’ efforts to re-sign star forward Paul George this NBA offseason.

Marc Stein reported on the latest #thisleague UNCUT podcast that the 76ers have the Clippers “most concerned” about their chances of retaining George. The 76ers have enough cap space to offer George a max contract, and they are expected to make a strong push for the 34-year-old forward.

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for the 51-win Clippers this season. He has a player option for 2024-25 but can decline it to become a free agent.

The Clippers’ goal is to re-sign 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.

However, the 76ers’ interest in George significantly challenges the Clippers’ plans. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the 76ers will likely offer George a max contract, which could be difficult for the Clippers to match.

“I think Philly is going to come out with a max offer to Paul George,” Windhorst said. “The Clippers are going to 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.'”

The 76ers’ desire to sign George is driven by their desire to maximize Joel Embiid‘s prime. Embiid has emerged as one of the NBA’s top players, and pairing him with George could make the 76ers a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.

The situation is worth monitoring, with free agency less than two months away. The 76ers’ emergence as a serious threat to the Clippers’ plans could lead to a competitive bidding war for George’s services.