Sixers get their third star as Paul George agrees to 4-year contract

Sixers get their third star as Paul George agrees to 4-year contract originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers certainly didn’t strike out in search of a third star.

After declining his Clippers player optionPaul George has agreed to sign a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia on Monday morning.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.

George was born in Palmdale, California, and played the last five seasons in Los Angeles. However, he is expected to join the Eastern Conference for the first time since his final season with the Pacers in 2016-17.

The Clippers Reportedly Remained Reluctant to offer the four-year contract George wanted. The team released a statement Sunday night acknowledging that there had been a “significant” gap between the parties to the negotiations. That left the door open for the Sixers and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, who intentionally entered this offseason with almost zero certainty in the lineup It is considerable lid space.

Last season, George made his ninth career All-Star Game. Joel Embiid reached his seventh and best player Tyrese Maxey won his first selection.

“I would say the biggest need is not at (Embiid or Maxey’s) position — someone on the wing who can play and deliver at a high level in the playoffs,” Morey said in May at his end-of-season press conference.

Health permitting, the Sixers will be optimistic about George’s specific skills coming to Philadelphia. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals last year, and shot 41.3% from three-point range on 7.9 attempts per game. George has proven himself able to gel with other stars, playing a more important role when injuries arise and effectively defending wingers and forwards.

Like the Sixers, George’s 2023-24 season ended with a first-round playoff exit. He has never been to the NBA Finals and the Sixers have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2001.

Now both parties hope that George’s dramatic move east will result in a breakthrough.

The Sixers also agreed to re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. is for add André Drummond It is Eric Gordon. As they build the new trio of Embiid, Maxey and George, there is plenty more free agent action on deck.