Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a $212 million contract over four years, according to a source familiar with the deal early Monday.
A nine-time All-Star, George plans to finalize the agreement shortly after the NBA’s signing moratorium ends on July 6. The source spoke anonymously to The Associated Press because the contract cannot be officially announced until then.
Joining forces with 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, George strengthens the 76ers’ lineup significantly. The team aims to build a competitive core capable of challenging the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.
George opted for Philadelphia after turning down the Los Angeles Clippers and declining a $48.8 million player option for the 2024-2025 season. He concludes a five-year tenure with the Clippers, during which he consistently averaged at least 21.5 points per season.
Throughout his 14-year career with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Clippers, George has maintained an average of 20.8 points per game.
The Clippers’ aspirations of success with their star trio of George, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden did not materialize.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers stated Sunday night. They added, “We negotiated extensively with Paul and his agent on terms that would benefit both parties, but we were unable to bridge the significant gap. We respect Paul’s decision to explore other options for his next contract.”
Choosing Philadelphia, the 34-year-old George joins a Sixers team that has historically fallen short of expectations, despite Embiid’s emergence as one of the NBA’s premier talents. The franchise has not won an NBA championship since 1983 or advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals since 2001.
Embiid, who will represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics, hinted at George’s move to Philadelphia during a joint TV appearance at the NBA Finals.
“Hopefully this offseason, we find a way to improve,” Embiid remarked, casting a glance at George, “and add some pieces.”
Despite numerous attempts with players like Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and Harden, the 76ers have struggled to build a winning team around Embiid. Team president Daryl Morey had been planning for this opportunity for years, assembling a roster with mostly expiring contracts by the end of the previous season.
