Paul George’s free agency meetings
Paul George is considered the top free agent on the market and will meet with the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic in free agency.
The 76ers will aggressively pursue George once free agency begins and are preparing a maximum contract offer, league sources told HoopsHype.
In fact, there was a palpable buzz this weekend that George could ultimately end up with the 76ers by the end of his free agency, according to various league personnel members.
A potential trio of former MVP Joel Embiid, George, and rising star Tyrese Maxey would give Philadelphia a formidable trio to compete against the reigning champion Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, who just acquired Mikal Bridges and agreed to re-sign OG Anunoby.
The Magic are also prepared to meet with George and offer a max contract. The meeting shows how far the franchise has come in recent years under the coaching of Jamahl Mosley and the play of rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
To this point, the Clippers have essentially drawn a line in the sand that Kawhi Leonard’s three-year, $153 million deal is the most they’ll look to spend on George, league sources told HoopsHype. George, meanwhile, is seeking a four-year max contract in free agency.
It remains to be seen if George indeed garners max offers from the 76ers and Magic, as expected, forcing the Clippers to reconsider their stance on the number of years and salary they’re willing to offer or risk losing him.