Report: 76ers could eye 3 star players this offseason

Mar 14, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers logo on the hardwood court against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers have cap space and assets to use this offseason, and it sounds like they hope to come away from it by adding a star player.

In an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up!,” Brian Windhorst named three big names the 76ers could pursue this offseason. The first is Paul George, who has yet to agree to a contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers. Windhorst said the Clippers have been hesitant to offer George a max contract, and believes the 76ers would do so if given the chance.

"The player at the top of their list is Paul George."@WindhorstESPN thinks the Sixers are going to give PG-13 a max contract offer in free agency, and will look to monitor Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram's situations 👀 pic.twitter.com/bRVVY1XeeO

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 3, 2024

Windhorst also expects the 76ers to monitor the situations of Jimmy Butler in Miami and Brandon Ingram in New Orleans. Butler has been linked with an exit from the Heat, and has two years remaining on his contract. The Sixers could absorb that and make a deal using assets from the James Harden trade.

Windhorst also adds that the Sixers could target Brandon Ingram if the New Orleans Pelicans listen to offers, though he would not be the team’s first choice. The Pelicans are expected to prioritize an extension with Trey Murphy, which could make Ingram expendable.

The Sixers certainly seem likely to be active, and the links to George are not new. The team has roughly $60 million in cap space to spend, though some of that will presumably go toward a Tyrese Maxey extension.

Philadelphia is coming off a disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the New York Knicks, and will want to maximize Joel Embiid’s championship window. Adding another star would be their best hope of doing that.