76ers News: $15 Million Star Could Solve Daryl Morey’s Headache, as Paul George Trade Becomes Unlikely

Paul George has opted out of the Los Angeles Clippers, refusing his $48.7 million option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s report on Saturday. Since Paul George has chosen to step into free agency, the trade option from the Clippers for demanding teams is off the table. Therefore, one of the forerunners for acquiring George, the Philadelphia Sixers, has a chance to land the shooting guard on their roster. He will likely take a meeting with interested teams on late Sunday and Monday for a new deal, which also includes the Clippers. In a rare case scenario, even if the Clippers front office gets George again, they have got a 2x NBA Champion to step up.

While appearing on the show ‘NBA on ESPN,’ analyst Tim Bontemps, joined by Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst, advised the Sixers to go with “KCP[Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and two others” if George gets off their hands. For now, the Philadelphia 76ers already have two big stars, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. However, it is quite tiring to fix a third major selection as he creates chances for the main forwards. KCP has a $15 million salary for now at the Nuggets, much less than Paul George’s maximum $49.4 million. In fact, the team will be left with only $8 million mid-level exception. However, there could be more MLE if they go with Caldwell-Pope.

KCP has averaged 10.1 points over 76 games during the 2023-24 season. In addition to that, he shot 46 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range. He has greater accuracy whenever he takes a shot, though the number of times he shoots is low. Nevertheless, the championship that he had with the Nuggets can help the Sixers get past the hurdle of the playoffs. The team crumbled under pressure and could not get past the first round of playoffs.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Paul George’s availability, exploring alternative options like KCP becomes imperative for the Sixers’ roster planning.

The technical edge Kentavious Caldwell Pope brings if Paul George is off the table for the Sixers

Daryl Morey and the Sixers want to stand as equals to the champion Celtics in the Eastern Conference. He has got Joel and Tyrese to match the foundation of the great teams. However, he just needs a wingman who can give results on both ends of the floor. Moreover, he should be adept at delivering under high-pressure situations, which Caldwell-Pope offers with his experience on the court. He has averaged 36.5% shooting percentage from deep during his playoff career stint.

On top of that, KCP knows where he fits in. He has experience playing besides LeBron-Anthony in the Lakers and Jokic-Jamal in the Denver. He will score some baskets while the field is open and create plays for stars if he gets choked. In every way, he completely compensates for Paul George. However, there is no doubt that Paul George will deliver well if he joins the Sixers roster due to the versatility they have with their financial resources.

Notably, George has averaged 22.6 points over 74 games last season with the Clippers. He has a much better scoring ability than KCP. But the fact remains intact that all of it depends on whether he’s willing to join as the third star on the Sixers roster. What’s your prediction about it? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato has to say about the alleged Shaq and Kobe Lakers beef. Keep checking this space for more such updates.