The addition of the Magic to the 76ers as a potential free agent seeker for Paul George is bad news for the Clippers.
An Eastern Conference team is reportedly considering signing Paul George in free agency to take him away from the Clippers.
The Los Angeles Clippers are currently in the midst of a fierce battle with the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, and there is a lot at stake for both teams.
It's key for the Clippers to have an in-depth playoff game, especially with a lot of uncertainty about the futures of both Paul George and James Harden as they enter free agency in July.
George has not hidden his willingness to sign a contract extension with the Clippers, however, the two sides have yet to agree on an agreement, so George will attract the attention of a number of teams in the free market, the most prominent of which seems to be the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, according to ESPN's Ramona Sherburn, in addition to the Clippers, the 76ers will also face competition for George's services.
On the episode of Brian Windhorst and the Basketball Collective podcast, Shelburn highlighted the Orlando Magic, who are in a tight battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a spot in the second-round playoffs, and they are tentatively extending an invitation to Paul George.
"There are two teams that are paying close attention to Paul George: the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers because they both have the money invested and need a wing like him, a seasoned guy like him," Shelburn said.
Paul George's skills make him a good fit for every NBA team, but, especially the Magic, they badly need what he brings to the table. George is far ahead in breaking down Gray Harris because George can act as a primary score creator and three-point shooter, excelling when it comes to catch-and-shoot shots.
In addition, the Clippers star fits in with the Magic's defense-first team style.
Poaching George from the Clippers comes at a big cost, but in terms of free agent options, the Magic won't have a better option than convincing the 33-year-old forward to leave his family to join the next big thing in the Eastern Conference.
Paul George is now very useful for the Magic, who suffered a 103-104 loss in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they are now behind the series, 2-3, but it is a testament to how far this Magic team has come, and they have left a more experienced Cavaliers sweating.
Their weaknesses were once again revealed, as they shot a fairly low percentage from long range, hitting just 9 of 31 attempts, as this team simply didn't have the accuracy of the shots needed in today's NBA competition.
Paul George is a career shooter who shoots 38.5 percent from three-point range, and he gives the Magic's offense a higher floor due to his excellent ability to pull off difficult shots. George was also able to play his best basketball game more than the Magic's other high-profile targets (Klay Thompson) on the free market.
George will be a timely rain for the Magic right now, as they desperately need a dangerous scorer to complement Paolo Banchero.
Despite Franz Wagner's various talents, he has not been good at shooting from long range this season. He shot just 28.1 percent from three-point range in the regular season, and in his first five games against the Cavaliers, he hit just eight of his 24 attempts.
However, it takes a little miracle for the Magic to poach Paul George from the Clippers.
First, the Magic won't have the rights to his birds, so George won't be able to sign a five-year contract. The Clippers can also offer the most average annual salary, and George is also settled in his native state of California, and as the Clippers are about to enter their Intuit Dome era, they can't afford to have a backbone roster around the frequently injured Kawhi Leonard while they fill the seats.
Can Paul George continue his heroic streak with the Clippers?
In Game 4, the Clippers badly needed heroic performances from Paul George and James Harden, and that's exactly what they got. With Kawhi Leonard out with a knee injury, George had a strong performance in Game 4, scoring 26 points in the first half. Even though the Mavericks tied the score from a 31-point deficit and George scored just two points in the third quarter, PG13 was able to excel when the Clippers needed him most.
With the Mavericks leading 105-104, George and Derrick Jones J. Jr. singled out one of the most difficult shots, a step-back three-pointer heavily guarded by the Mavericks' guards, and brought the Clippers back to a two-point lead, and they didn't give up that advantage.
However, the Clippers' mission is not over yet.
Kawhi Leonard also missed Game 5 and it's unclear if he'll return for the playoffs. Paul George must continue to perform at his best, and his recent record in Race 5 offers a good chance if he can continue to shine on his Race 4.