Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the Philadelphia 76ers laying the groundwork for a grand offseason shouldn’t be news to you. Alas, the franchise’s year-plus-long preservation of its cap space has been public knowledge for quite some time now, and if anything, it would be a huge upset if the team fails to snag a star-level player in free agency.
At this juncture, the 76ers have already been linked to some of the biggest names expected to be available this summer, even those with the projected billing as potential trade market shoo-ins. However, it seems like the team could face another fearsome opponent for their main offseason target.
76ers could miss out on Paul George as rival team is rumored to have a godfather trade offer
According to Forbes Sports’ Evan Sidery, the New York Knicks, the team that recently booted the 76ers out of the playoffs before getting eliminated themselves, have the tools to make an enticing bid for Paul George, who has been the talk of the rumor mill for Philadelphia for a couple of months now.
Paul George is an underrated target to potentially monitor for the Knicks.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 20, 2024
Last summer, New York was in serious contact with the Clippers leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft.
If George decided to go the opt-in and trade route, New York can create an almost identical salary match… pic.twitter.com/vLEjOCVDkw
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale then proposed a similar trade framework with George heading to New York for a slew of their high-end role players. Unlike Philadelphia, which only has Paul Reed as its lone tradable player (aside from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, obviously), New York can lure the LA Clippers into absorbing some of their cogs in return to remain relevant in the West.
George, who profiles as a perfect fit with the 76ers, would give Philly a very formidable trio with championship potential. However, the Knicks also stand out as an attractive option given their success this season, general market allure, and realistic shot at a title.
Hopefully, the 76ers can present a better case for Paul George by offering him an offer he can’t turn down in free agency, as it would also erase the possibility of him opting in and the Knicks having the chance to steal him for themselves.