PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia 76ers’ interest in Paul George has “decreased significantly” in recent days, according to a report from The Athletic Thursday evening.
The Sixers are expected to be “aggressive elsewhere with their salary cap flexibility and draft capital leading into next week’s NBA Draft,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.
The Sixers have long been linked to Los Angeles Clippers forward George, aiming to pursue this offseason with Joel Embid And Tyrese Maxeybut it looks like that won’t be the case.
George, 34, has a $48 million player option for the 2024-25 season and would have to opt out for the Sixers to sign him in free agency. The Sixers were reportedly prepared to offer George a max contract until Thursday’s news.
With George seemingly not in Philadelphia’s plans this offseason, they will shift their focus to other wings available through free agency or via trade.
The Sixers enter the offseason with a projected $55.5 million in cap space, and could create up to $65 million in cap space by waiving their free agent cap, but that would come at the cost of losing their Bird rights. They also have multiple first-round picks in their arsenal that are available to trade.
One of the wings for the Sixers to target is New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. According to The Athleticthe Pelicans recently contacted the Sixers to gauge their interest in Ingram.
The 2024 NBA draft begins Wednesday and the Sixers have their own pick at 16, just outside the lottery, and also have a second-round pick they acquired from the Boston Celtics in the Jaden Springer trade at the deadline.
The Sixers forfeited their own second-round pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft after an investigation into messing with PJ Tucker and Danuel House Jr.
NBA teams can begin negotiating with all incoming free agents beginning June 30 at 6 p.m., approximately one week after the 2024 NBA draft.
