Paul George is returning to the Eastern Conference, which brings joy to Joel Embiid.
According to a source familiar with the move, George will sign a $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The deal cannot be finalized until July 6 due to NBA rules, and the news broke just a few hours into the start of NBA free agency.
Embiid, Philadelphia’s center and the 2022-23 NBA MVP, had hinted at this move weeks ago during a television appearance with George at the NBA Finals. He expressed his desire to see George join him on the 76ers.
The Los Angeles Clippers confirmed earlier on Sunday night that George would not be returning to their team. This paved the way for the nine-time All-Star to negotiate terms with Philadelphia.
“We negotiated with Paul and his representative for months on a contract that would work for both sides, but we couldn’t bridge the significant gap,” the Clippers stated in a release. “We respect Paul’s decision to seek his next contract elsewhere.”
George, who had a $48.8 million option for the upcoming season but chose free agency instead, remains an elite player at 34 years old. He averaged 22.6 points per game this past season, marking his ninth consecutive season with at least 20 points per game.
In related news, James Harden is reportedly staying with the Clippers on a two-year contract that includes a player option, according to another source familiar with the decision.
