The Los Angeles Clippers have been holding extensive discussions with Paul George ahead of the star forward potentially declining his player option and hitting free agency, and the Philadelphia 76ers are currently the betting favorites to land the star forward if he doesn’t return to Los Angeles, per BetOnline.ag.

George is currently listed at +200 to land with the 76ers should he not return to the Clippers next season. Just behind the 76ers are the Orlando Magic at +300 and San Antonio Spurs at +900.

The 76ers would make a lot of sense for George. Philadelphia has a pair of stars in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey but lacks a third option that can play on both ends of the floor. Tobias Harris has his nights offensively, but isn’t the defender that George is and recently flamed out in the 76ers’ NBA Playoffs loss to the New York Knicks.

While George is 34 years old and therefore could be a risky proposition on the back end of a long-term deal, the 76ers are in win-now mode and desperate to land a third star while Embiid is in his prime and (relatively) healthy. Should the Clippers – who just paid Kawhi Leonard max money and now are pressured to pay James Harden after acquiring him early in the season – decide to allow George to test the market, look for Philadelphia to swoop in with a huge offer.

George averaged 22.6 points this year and set career highs in field-goal percentage (47.1) and three-point percentage (41.3). His 74 appearances were also his most since 2018-19.

76ers look for answers after falling in NBA Playoffs

After a thrilling six games against the New York Knicks in the NBA Playoffs, the season has finally ended. There are many factors that contributed to the Tyrese Maxey-led Philadelphia 76ers’ downfall. Some of it had to do with Joel Embiid being bogged down by injuries.

Philly desperately needed one thing to overcome the odds and win the first round. That thing was a consistent third option.

Embiid and Maxey just could not get anyone else from their squad involved. The 76ers needed someone who could notch 20 more points to keep them afloat against this hard-nosed Knicks squad. Kelly Oubre was the closest that this squad had to that. The player on a one-year contract attempted an average of 10 field goals per night. Even at a 48% stroke from all three levels of scoring, he could only give an average of 12.4 points.

Only four 76ers players – Embiid, Paul Reed, Jeff Dowtin and Ricky Council IV – have contracts in place for the 2024-25 season. And of those four, only Embiid’s is guaranteed. Barring last-minute extensions, then, 12 players will be headed to the market, and the inconsequential Dowtin and Council may make it 14.