Paul George Trade Rumors: NBA Insider Deems Clippers Star ‘Really Good’ Fit For Magic as 1st Round Exits Signal Busy Summer Ahead

Paul George receives a strong suggestion after the early playoff exit. The LA Clippers star had a lot of noise surrounding his upcoming free agency throughout the postseason. As the Clippers have also lost their track in the first round, it further strengthened the voices. On top of that, the Orlando Magic‘s Game 7 heartbreak only paved the way for further analogies about PG-13’s presence on the Orlando side.

Chris Mannix, a senior writer at Sports Illustrator and also an NBA insider, dropped a post, hinting at massive trade in the offseason. Mannix’s X post read, “Paul George would look really, really good in Orlando …” Considering the efforts of the inexperienced Magic side in the playoffs, PG’s inclusion raised the stakes for the side once again.

After the days of Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard, the Magic came nowhere close to forming a team with a superstar. Nevertheless, the current team with the sophomore star Paolo Banchero carried the team to their first playoffs since 2020. Interestingly, in the last season, they finished in the 13th seed with a 34-48 record. HC Jamahl Mosley managed to take the same team to the fifth seed with a 47-35 record. Moreover, Mosley didn’t make any significant move ahead of the trade deadline and tested his team’s potential.

Going into the 2024 offseason, the team has a projected salary cap space of $19 million for the next year. The Magic has the privilege of roping in a superstar while already holding a thriving team filled with youth. Paul George has always been on the radar for star value and the experience that he will bring to the Magic side.

Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Franz Wagner make the Magic side, a strong defense-oriented side. Along with an established shooter like PG-13, the side could scale heights. The Clippers star, who had been receiving an average salary of $44 million annually, might have a similar contract with the Magic, they trade out a few picks and players.

Apart from Paul George, who are all the potential Free Agents?

With Paul George out of the picture, the attention directly falls on Klay Thompson. The sharp shooter from the Golden State Warriors had a hot and cold season, failing miserably in the last game, going scoreless. The Magic’s strong defense unit may fancy their chance with a catch-and-shoot superstar for the upcoming season.

D’Angelo Russell, who will enter player option alongside LeBron James in the Lakers unit, will also make a better fit for the Magic. Apart from his perimeter shooting, D’Lo showcased his orchestrating skills in the recently concluded series against the Denver Nuggets. PG-13‘s current teammate James Harden will also be a free agent in the off-season. A superstar with orchestrating skills will be a massive boost for Banchero & Co.

Other potential free agents include Malik Monk (Sac Town), Jonas Valanciunas (Pelicans), and Isaiah Hartenstein (Knicks). While the Magic have the privilege to fill massive cap space, they aren’t alone in the race. The Philadelphia 76ers have a projected cap space of $58 million. Who do you think will pick Paul George? Let us know in the comments.