4. Paul George, Philadelphia’s 2024 summer pipe dream
At this juncture, the Paul George sweepstakes could boil down to just two teams: the LA Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. While the former is still justifiably considered as the favorite to retain the All-Star, their growing payroll and lack of playoff success to show for it could force them to start a more conservative approach to team-building, if not soft launch an impending rebuild.
The 76ers have the pecuniary ammo, on-court need, and win-now allure that could lure George into leaving Hollywood. Joel Embiid, for all his injury concerns, is still a more durable leader than the ever-absent Kawhi Leonard, and Tyrese Maxey inspires more confidence than a declining James Harden.
Few Big Threes in the NBA can match and size up with a hypothetical Embiid-Maxey-George trio. After all, while already 34, George remains an inarguable two-way force who can take over games with his shot creation, burn opponents as a high-volume, spot-up option, and capably defend the opponent’s best player.