After Friday, the inability to sign Paul George in free agency will be seen by many as a major setback for the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. During the ESPN NBA Countdown show, where George was a guest host, both players expressed their strong desire to reach the Finals themselves.
The Sixers are expected to pursue George if he opts out of his $48.8 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers on June 30. When asked about the Celtics potentially winning the championship, Embiid openly expressed his disdain for Boston, while hinting at his hope to add new pieces to the Sixers, glancing at George and smiling.
Embiid’s comments underscore the Sixers’ serious interest in adding George, a nine-time All-Star. Despite their first-round playoff exit, the Sixers believe they can be the second-best team in the Eastern Conference with a healthy Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They think adding George to form an All-Star trio would make them formidable challengers to the Celtics for both conference and league dominance.
George, who would replace Tobias Harris, is a highly accomplished player with 14 NBA seasons under his belt, including six All-NBA selections and four All-Defensive Team picks. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals this season, shooting a career-best 41.3% from three-point range.
During their appearance on NBA Countdown, both George and Embiid agreed with ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins on their desire to perform on the big stage of the Finals. Embiid emphasized his goal of winning a championship and hinted at potential roster changes to achieve it.
George, while evasive, shared his disappointment at not playing in the Finals and reflected on missed opportunities. His interaction with Embiid on the show, coupled with the buzz on social media, has raised hopes among Sixers fans of George joining the team.
According to sources, the Clippers are unwilling to offer George more than the three-year, $152.3 million extension given to Kawhi Leonard, while George is eligible for a four-year, $221 million contract. The Sixers, with nearly $65 million in cap space, can offer a four-year, $212 million deal. Financially, it would be advantageous for George to leave California, where he faces a 13.3% tax rate on high earners, compared to Pennsylvania’s 3.07% rate.
The Orlando Magic, another team with significant cap space, is also watching the situation. Embiid’s spontaneous appearance on NBA Countdown, after learning of George’s guest hosting, has intensified free-agency rumors and raised expectations among Sixers fans. Consequently, failing to sign George would be seen as a major disappointment following Embiid’s actions. Embiid, the 2023 MVP, remains confident that the Sixers will challenge the Celtics next season.
Be the first to comment