Report: Sixers’ interest in pursuing George has ‘decreased significantly’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As the NBA offseason action and rumors escalate, the Sixers’ “interest in pursuing Paul George has waned significantly in recent days,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.
The Sixers are expected to be aggressive elsewhere with (their) salary cap flexibility and draft capital leading into next week’s NBA Draft, Charania tweeted Thursday evening.
NBA teams were officially allowed to begin negotiating with their own free agents the day after the Celtics won the championship. The draft is set for next Wednesday and next Thursday, and negotiations with all free agents will begin on June 30 at 6:00 PM ET.
The Sixers have been widely linked to George since shortly after their first-round playoff loss to the Knicks. Joel Embiid is the team’s only player currently under a guaranteed contract through the 2024-25 season. The Sixers are the rare playoff-caliber team able to land another top, big-money talent and president of basketball operations. Daryl Morey historically hasn’t been shy about going after stars.
For now, they have an All-Star guard in Tyrese Maxey and a world-class center in Embiid.
“I would say the biggest need is not at their position – someone on the wing who can play at a high level and perform in the play-offs,” Morey said at his end-of-season press conference.
George made his ninth All-Star Game last season and averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. The 34-year-old has until June 29 to exercise his $48.8 million player option for next season. He and the Clippers have not yet agreed on a possible contract extension.
Brandon Ingram and OG Anunoby are two other players in line for an extension in the ever-swirling rumor mill. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reported Thursday that the Pelicans had “contacted the Philadelphia 76ers about a potential Ingram trade.” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Tuesday that “most people think Anunoby will stay with New York, but there are indications he may want to test the market because he doesn’t like what the Knicks” have offered.
In terms of role players, Nicolas Batum, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry among the Sixers’ notable internal free agents. After the draft and post-option deadlines, we will get a clearer picture of the external market.
As things stand now, the Sixers have the 16th and 41st picks in the draft and it remains to be seen exactly how Morey will approach this intriguing offseason.
