Paul George agrees to $212 million max deal with 76ers in NBA free agency blockbuster
Paul George’s new destination has finally been determined.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early Monday morning that the forward had agreed on a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
George reportedly met with team brass Sunday night in Los Angeles, a gathering that included owner Josh Harris, top basketball executive Daryl Morey and iconic Sixer Julius Erving.
The 34-year-old was also expected to meet with the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers, with whom he spent the past five seasons.
The Clippers and George failed to reach an agreement on an extension Sunday night, with the franchise outwardly indicating the superstar would not be back.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the team said in a statement. “We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”
On June 29, George opted out of the last year of his four-year, $176 million deal with the Clippers, marking the first tidal wave of looming free agency activity.
If George had opted in, a trade with the Golden State Warriors — who supposedly offered packages involving Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, according to The Athletic — seemed in play.
By Sunday evening, several reports indicated that George seemed bound for the City of Brotherly Love.
George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season, notching his ninth All-Star appearance.
Perhaps most encouraging was that George suited up in 74 games, his most since 2018-19.
During the Clippers’ first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks, George’s production dipped slightly, averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.
The former No. 10 overall pick will now join forces with an organization that’s viewed as one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.
In 2023-24, the 76ers went 45-37, earning the East’s No. 7 seed before falling to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
The fact Philadelphia even made it that far was a bit surprising given reigning MVP center Joel Embiid played in only 39 games because of a lingering knee injury.
In Embiid’s absence, guard Tyrese Maxey turned into a superstar, averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game en route to winning Most Improved Player honors.
After being part of a West Coast big-three with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, George will now form a premier triumvirate with Embiid and Maxey as the Sixers look to battle against the Knicks, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks for East supremacy.
Follow all the latest updates on NBA free agency, including signings, trades and rumors.
The 76ers’ addition of George was the latest in an offseason that’s already been hectic for the organization, which re-signed forward Kelly Oubre Jr. to a two-year, $16.3 million deal in the hours before George’s contract.
Philly also acquired veteran center Andre Drummond, who came to terms with the franchise on a two-year deal worth around $10 million Sunday night.
Now on his fourth team, George seeks his first NBA Finals appearance, something which the 76ers themselves haven’t reached since 2000-01.
