9-time NBA All-Star ahead Paul George will be part of the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $212 million max contract, league sources mentioned Monday.
George spent the previous 5 seasons with the LA Clippers, the place he averaged 22.6 factors, 5.2 rebounds and three.5 assists this previous season. The Clippers introduced on Sunday evening that the 2 sides have been unable to comply with a contract extension, clearing the best way for George to maneuver to a unique crew.
He joins a Philadelphia crew spearheaded by two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid and 2023-24 Most Improved Participant Tyrese Maxey — however a franchise that hasn’t superior previous the Jap Convention semifinals since its final NBA Finals look in 2001. Philadelphia went 47-35 this season and have been eradicated from the playoffs by the New York Knicks within the first spherical.
George, 34, appears to suit the 76ers on each ends of the ground. On offense, George is equally adept as a pick-and-roll ballhandler or in isolation. He’s additionally one of the vital efficient off-ball stars within the league. George is coming off of a season the place he reached profession highs in field-goal share (47.1), 3-point share (41.3), and free-throw share (90.7). Whereas George has points with turnovers often and has seen his free-throw try charge plummet in recent times, Maxey and Embiid may ease these issues. Embiid, the 2023 MVP, would be the centerpiece of Philadelphia’s offense beneath coach Nick Nurse, and Maxey averaged a career-high 25.9 factors per sport this season, making his first All-Star crew within the course of. When George has it going, the 76ers can experience him. When George desires to defer, he has a number of youthful stars to permit him to play within the background.
On protection, George’s rebounding has fallen off, and he doesn’t tackle as many high assignments as he used to. However he’s nonetheless a defensive playmaker who has a 6-foot-11 wingspan and lively palms. Nurse’s defenses have at all times prioritized forcing turnovers, and George is among the greatest within the league at creating them.
In the end, the 76ers wanted to make a transfer to try to save this period of their franchise. Embiid established himself as an elite power with Ben Simmons from 2017 to 2021, just for Simmons to fall out with the group and be traded for James Harden. Mockingly, the Harden commerce to the Clippers final yr enabled the 76ers to open up the area to signal George. Whereas George, who might be beneath contract till age 38, could also be within the second half of his profession, the 76ers have arguably their strongest crew on paper since Jimmy Butler left in 2019. Philadelphia now has the third-best odds (8-1) to win the NBA title, in keeping with BetMGM, behind the Boston Celtics (3-1) and Denver Nuggets (15-2) and tied with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Individually, Philadelphia has agreed to phrases to convey again Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two-year, $16.3 million deal, a league supply confirmed. Oubre, 28, averaged 15.4 factors and 5.0 rebounds per sport in 68 appearances this season after coming over from Charlotte on a one-year deal.
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