The Philadelphia 76ers made a splash this NBA offseason by signing former LA Clippers star Paul George to a four-year, $212 million contract in free agency.
George joins star duo Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as the 76ers continue their pursuit of an NBA title. While it once seemed unlikely that George would leave the Clippers, the Southern California native has failed to reach an agreement with the franchise he spent the last five seasons with.
Clippers president Lawrence Frank recently revealed to a group of media members that the team had increased its offer to George after acquiring James Harden, but the two sides have remained far apart in negotiations.
Lawrence Frank has confirmed that Paul George was initially offered two years/$60 million, but that was in addition to his $50 million player option.
Frank said the Clippers then increased their offer to PG without asking once they added James Harden. pic.twitter.com/saShF7akoe
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) July 15, 2024
That left the door open for the 76ers and Embiid to begin recruiting the nine-time All-Star to Philadelphia.
That desire was evident even before George officially entered free agency.
Joel Embiid with a not-so-subtle look toward Paul George when he says the Sixers will improve this offseason:
“This offseason we will find a way to improve 👀… add some pieces.”
Philadelphia is ready to aggressively pursue Paul George with a maximum contract offer. pic.twitter.com/O386Ktuqmz
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 15, 2024
In a recent article by NBA insider Marc Stein via his Substacka story that former Memphis Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter shared on the UNCUT #thisleague Podcast was transcribed. According to Pondexter, it helped connect Embiid and George.
“Joel is one of my best friends,” Pondexter said on the #thisleague UNCUT podcast, via Stein. “And so how Joel got Paul’s number to start trying to offer it to him was because of me. … I don’t even know how much the Sixers know, but quietly, one of the biggest — I hate to say this — one of the biggest pieces of this was me being like, ‘Yo, Joel, you gotta keep recruiting. [George]you have to try to get him, you have to get him, you have to talk to him, you have to, you know, whatever.'”
Pondexter played in the NBA for nine seasons but missed two full years with a knee injury. The former first-round pick of the OKC Thunder in 2010 spent most of his career in Memphis, appearing in 168 games for the Grizzlies over four seasons.
According to Pondexter, Embiid at one point gave up hope of George joining the 76ers.
the biggest assist of the offseason 😏#NBAAssistWeek https://t.co/qFTqSJeOib pic.twitter.com/8N4PhuGTQC
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) August 16, 2024
“There was a point where Joel gave up,” Pondexter said. “He was like, ‘There’s no way he’s coming, there’s no way he’s coming to Philly, there’s no way.’ I called P’s friends and they said, ‘Q, trust me. He’s got a great chance. You’re doing great.’”
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