Keep track of the latest offseason news with the 2024 Free Agency Roundup.
Hours after the Clippers announced Paul George would be leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, reports surfaced early Monday morning that the nine-time All-Star had come to terms on a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
George appears set to join new All-Star teammates Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, potentially forming Philadelphia’s best chance at advancing beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2001.
BREAKING: Free agent F Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. George committed in a meeting with Sixers officials and returns East to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title. pic.twitter.com/pkCfGu3hyp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
Paul George plans to sign a four-year, $212 million maximum contract to join the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/ffK4fCVsxM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2024
George’s reported contract with the 76ers represents the maximum value deal that George was unable to obtain from the Clippers. After several rounds of negotiations, Los Angeles elected to move on in a different direction in order to maintain some flexibility under the new team-building restrictions of the collective bargaining agreement.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers said in a release Sunday night.
The team added, “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.”
Clippers’ statement on Paul George parting ways following a significant gap in contract talks, exploring an opt-in and trade scenario and excitement new opportunities and greater flexibility under new CBA to field a “highly competitive team” moving forward: pic.twitter.com/Uajbail3Hk
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) July 1, 2024
George had a $48.8 million option for this coming season but did not exercise it, entering free agency — which opened Sunday night — instead. It was believed there was a chance that George and the Clippers could have still gotten something done, but the team made clear that those hopes are gone.
“We will miss Paul,” the Clippers said.
At 34, George is still elite — averaging 22.6 points this past season, the ninth consecutive season in which he has averaged at least 20 points per game.
Meanwhile, James Harden is staying with the Clippers on a two-year contract that includes a player option, a person with knowledge of that decision told The earlier Sunday.
The contributed to this report.
