Clippers star expected to meet with Sixers and several teams in free agency

The Paul George draw is heating up.

On Saturday night, the LA Clippers star opted to decline his player option for the 2024-2025 NBA season, showing that there is a chance his time in Los Angeles could end this summer.

The Philadelphia 76ers will have an opportunity to make an offer to the star forward, according to ESPN Adrien Wojnarowski.

When free agency opens this weekend, George is expected to hold a meeting with the Clippers. He is also expected to entertain the Sixers and their Eastern Conference rival, the Orlando Magic.

The Sixers and Magic have been considered potential suitors for George since free agency began. Considering they have cap space for a max deal and an intriguing situation for the championship-hungry wing, the Sixers have what George is looking for.

But the Clippers certainly can’t be ruled out. While multiple reports have suggested that the Clippers aren’t willing to pay Paul’s asking price, perhaps the thought of losing him to another suitor will force the Clippers to cave and pay their desired asking price.

Still, the Sixers shouldn’t be ruled out as a leverage play.

Despite a significant roster turnover from last year, the Sixers’ duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey has emerged as one of the best cores in the league. The Sixers are now looking for a player of George’s caliber, hoping it will help push them into true title-contender territory.

Like Embiid and Maxey, George did not win an NBA title. He has made 11 playoff appearances, with 114 games of playoff experience. In the playoffs, the All-Star scorer averaged 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 35 percent shooting from deep.

It’s unclear where George’s head is at, but it appears the Sixers are a top-three finalist in his market, which is a positive sign after the situation became unclear last week.