What was once deemed a match made in heaven has now mutated into a marriage destined to end in the fiery abyss of hell. Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers' relationship has proved to be an unsuccessful and expensive experiment that the franchise must pivot on as soon as possible. If league expansion materializes -- as rumours suggest -- the Sixers could leave their veteran unprotected in the expansion draft, offloading his expensive contract onto an incoming franchise.
Per Dallas Mavericks reporter Brad Townsend, "I'm hearing NBA Board of Governors likely to vote on expanding [the NBA] by two teams this summer and Las Vegas and Seattle are favored."
Think it's going to be an extra-great year for Seattle. I'm hearing NBA Board of Governors likely to vote on expanding by two teams this summer and Las Vegas and Seattle are favored.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 9, 2026
Despite no timeline being set for when the NBA Board of Governors would aim to have these two teams enter the league, it does present a clear opportunity for the 76ers to offload George's unattractive contract before it expires if an expansion draft occurs in this timeframe.
After the 2025-26 season has concluded, Paul George will still have two years (player option) remaining on his deal, which is reported to be worth $110.6 million. This provides Philadelphia little flexibility to reconstruct a roster now blessed with young, emerging talent, including VJ Edgecombe (20) and Tyrese Maxey (25).
Additionally, by acquiring the Houston Rockets' 2026 first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Jared McCain trade, the Sixers further signaled a clear pivot toward youth and dynamism.
George's 25-game suspension has cemented the fact that this is a turbulent relationship that both player and franchise would benefit from if their association were ended sooner rather than later.
NBA expansion draft provides an easy escape route for both parties
If we work on the premise that the NBA expansion will take place in the final year of George's contract (2027-28), and the player will opt into the concluding year of his deal, then the expansion draft would be the easiest way for Philadelphia to unload his deal.
In previous expansion drafts -- most recently 2004 -- the NBA has allowed teams to protect eight players on their rosters from selection. The remaining players would be eligible for expansion franchises to absorb their current contracts if deemed to be suitable for their season's ambitions. However, only one player can be cherry-picked from this list of assets.
Expansion franchises have been able to acquire players who are in the final year of their deals, which is where Paul George comes into play. Not only would this add a veteran presence to their newly established roster and a name that has carried star power throughout his NBA career, but his expiring contract would allow the front office to pivot easily at the end of their inaugural campaign if the relationship did not pan out as envisaged.
Regardless of his time in Philadelphia, the 35-year-old still maintains a reputable image in the NBA. In the correct infrastructure, George could prove to be an effective frontcourt option who can contribute to winning. Most importantly, from a front-office standpoint, his name alone would generate instant viewership and revenue for a new franchise looking to gain traction
Paul George's contract will be viewed as unattractive by the majority of front offices in the NBA, leaving the Philadelphia 76ers few options if they wish to move away from the 'Big Three' vision they once created. An expansion draft would be the ideal opportunity to cut their losses and move on to a new blueprint.