76ers make a splash with $400 million in contracts for Paul George and Tyrese Maxey
FILE - Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, right, and Jerry West attend a groundbreaking ceremony of the Intuit Dome, Sept. 17, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. The two-day NBA draft was tinged with sadness for the Clippers, who were without West in their war room. West spent the last seven years as a consultant for the team, helping recruit Kawhi Leonard and George. The Hall of Famer died June 12 at age 86. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Ringo H.W. Chiu]
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George ditched Los Angeles and decided to help form a new Big Three in Philadelphia with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Maxey needed to stick around to complete the talented trio. The 76ers went all in on lavish, long-term contracts to make it happen. George agreed overnight to a four-year, $212 million free-agent contract after the nine-time All-Star spurned the Clippers. Maxey soon agreed in principle by sunrise Monday to a five-year, $204 million extension. The 76ers jumped to an 8-1 favorite to win the 2025 title, per BetMGM Sportsbook. Philadelphia has not won an NBA title since 1983 or even advanced out of the second round of the playoffs since 2001.
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FILE - Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 17, 2024. George will sign a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press early Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, FIle)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Ashley Landis
FILE - Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey (0) looks to pass during the first half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York. Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $212 million free-agent deal, a person with knowledge of the deal said Monday, July 1, 2024. Maxey is sticking around for the long haul, too — agreeing in principle to a five-year, $204 million extension with the Sixers on Monday, July 1, 2024, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet finalized. .(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, Filee)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Frank Franklin II