Paul George Rumors: 76ers, Pacers Were ‘Believed to Be Interested’ in FA Pursuit

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If Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George hits the open market this summer, there are expected to be several suitors for his services.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers are “believed to be interested in pursuing him” in free agency, according to NBA insider Marc Stein:

“The three-year extension in excess of $150 million signed by Kawhi Leonard with the Clippers without warning last week is merely the latest example. Not only does Leonard come off the board as a potential free agent in July but the Clippers are now widely expected to sign Paul George to an in-season contract extension.”George’s free agency had the potential to be one of next summer’s most interesting storylines with both Philadelphia and PG-13’s old friends in Indiana believed to be interested in pursuing him. The rising expectation across the league now, of course, is that George will do a new Kawhi-esque deal with the Clippers sooner rather than later … while James Harden (ineligible for an in-season contract extension) must wait until the summer before he, too, is expected to extend his stay in Clipperland.”

George has a player option worth $48.8 million in 2024-25 that he can decline to become a free agent.

However, it’s unlikely the eight-time All-Star hits free agency as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Clippers are in extension discussions with George and want to get him locked up to a long-term contract.

The Clippers also announced last week that they had signed Leonard to a contract extension, and The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania reported the deal was worth $152.4 million over three years.

Leonard indicated while speaking with reporters after agreeing to the deal that he signed an extension with the expectation that George and James Harden would remain with the franchise beyond the 2023-24 season.

“With the conversation that I have with them about it, I think for the most part everybody is coming back,” Leonard said. “So, with me signing the extension, I think it gives us a chance to sign both of those players.”

Additionally, both George and the Clippers confirmed at the time that they were in extension negotiations.

“We’re working through it,” George told reporters.

Clippers president Lawrence Frank added: “We talk with Paul daily, talk with his representative, Aaron Mintz. We want Paul to be a Clipper and we’re hopeful.”

The Clippers acquired George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and he signed a four-year, $176 million contract extension with the franchise a year later. He has emerged as a key contributor for the franchise alongside Leonard, who signed with the team as a free agent in 2019.

However, both George and Leonard have suffered numerous injuries since joining the Clippers, and those ailments ruined their title chances in each of the last four seasons.

George hasn’t played in more than 56 games in a season for the Clippers due to injuries, though he has remained mostly healthy this year, as has Leonard.

With George and Leonard healthy, the Clippers sit fourth in the Western Conference with a 25-14 record and remain in contention for the No. 1 seed, sitting three games back of the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves.

Through 37 games this season, George is averaging 23.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent from deep. If he remains healthy, the Clippers figure to have a good chance of making a run to the NBA Finals.