Philadelphia 76ers still targeting Paul George, could shift focus to LeBron James and Brandon Ingram if Clippers meet contract requirements

LeBron James? Brandon Ingram? Paul George? The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to be one of the more “busy” teams this summer given the fact that they have a ton of cap space and draft assets at their disposal to add another star player alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

Who will be in Philadelphia for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season? That is a question that has been widely speculated on over the past few months and we still don’t have any concrete answers.

What we do know, is that the 76ers have roughly $60 million in cap space and up to FIVE first-round picks eligible to trade this summer – starting on NBA Draft night.

Tyrese Maxey All-NBA snub will end up costing him a lot of money in upcoming contract extension >>

One of the main targets for the Sixers was going to be Paul George but it remains uncertain on how the Los Angeles Clippers plan to address a contract extension this summer.

Don’t get me wrong, Paul George is definitely a viable option. If he does in fact decline his $48.8 million player option for 2024-25, he’ll be on the market and one of the top free agents this summer. George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals over 74 games last season. 

The Clippers could easily offer him a four-year, $221 million contract but according to Kevin O’Connor from The Ringer, the biggest offer George has received from Los Angeles has been a three-year $152.4 million extension – the same number Kawhi Leonard received in January. 

Shams Charania doesn’t see Paul George in Philly, as stated “Up and Adams”:

He’s potentially going to be a free agent this offseason. Is he going to be back in LA? That’s a question for them as well. Lou Williams said on our show today, he’s like, ‘Paul George isn’t leaving LA.’ I think people around the league have had this belief he’s an LA kid, and he wants to be here. We’ll find out very, very soon.

Over the past month, there have been reports that New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, who’s under contract for one more season, is the “fall back” plan if George stays put or heads elsewhere in free agency. 

Where else will the 76ers look? Well, according to Keith Pompey, it looks like LeBron James will definitely be getting a call from GM Daryl Morey. 

According to Keith Pompey, the Philadelphia 76ers have their eyes on LeBron James

“The Sixers do have their eyes on other lucrative-salary impact players just in case they don’t get George. That’s why they also are looking at potential free agents like the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby. If not in free agency, the Sixers believe they can use their draft assets and available cap space to acquire a difference-maker via a trade. That has led to Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram being among trade interests.” 

If LeBron James does get a call, it will almost certainly mean that the 76ers will use a draft pick to draft his son, Bronny James.

Other names still in consideration would be Jimmy Butler and Zach LaVine. It was also reported that the 76ers could target New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby and that Daryl Morey would be circling Phoenix “like a vulture” if the Suns intend to move on from Kevin Durant.

The NBA Draft is roughly one month away. It will be held on June 26th and June 27 at 8PM from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.

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