What was once considered a match made in Heaven has now mutated into a marriage destined to end in the fiery abyss of Hell. The relationship between Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers has proven to be a failed and expensive experiment that the franchise needs to turn around as soon as possible. If league expansion becomes a reality – as rumors suggest – the Sixers could leave their veteran unprotected in the expansion draft, transferring his expensive contract to a new franchise.
According to Dallas Mavericks reporter Brad Townsend, “I hear the NBA Board of Governors will likely vote on expansion [the NBA] this summer by two teams and Las Vegas and Seattle are the preferred ones.”
I think it’s going to be an extra great year for Seattle. I hear the NBA Board of Governors will likely vote on a two-team expansion this summer, with Las Vegas and Seattle being the preferred options.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 9, 2026
While no timeline has been set for when the NBA Board of Governors would look to get these two teams into the league, this does present a clear opportunity for the 76ers to terminate George’s unattractive contract before it expires if an expansion draft occurs within this time frame.
After the 2025-2026 season ends, Paul George will have two years (player option) left on his contract, which is reportedly worth $110.6 million. This leaves Philadelphia little flexibility to rebuild a roster now blessed with young, emerging talent, including VJ Edgecombe (20) and Tyrese Maxey (25).
Additionally, by acquiring the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Jared McCain trade, the Sixers further sent a clear signal toward youth and dynamism.
George’s 25-match suspension has cemented the fact that this is a turbulent relationship that would benefit both player and franchise if their partnership were to end sooner or later.
The NBA expansion draft provides an easy escape route for both sides
Assuming the NBA expansion will occur in the final year of George’s contract (2027-2028), and the player will opt into the final year of his deal, then the expansion draft would be the easiest way for Philadelphia to complete his deal.
In previous expansion drafts (most recently 2004), the NBA has allowed teams to protect eight players on their roster from selection. The remaining players would be eligible for expansion franchises to pick up their current contracts if they are deemed suitable for their season’s ambitions. However, only one player can be selected from this list of assets.
Expansion franchises have been able to acquire players who are in the final year of their deals, and that’s where Paul George comes into play. Not only would this add a veteran presence to their newly created roster and a name that has carried stars throughout his NBA career, but his expiring contract would allow the front office to easily pivot at the end of their inaugural campaign if the relationship doesn’t go as planned.
Regardless of his time in Philadelphia, the 35-year-old still has a renowned image in the NBA. In the right infrastructure, George could prove to be an effective frontcourt presence that could contribute to victory. Most importantly, from a front office perspective, his name alone would immediately generate viewers and revenue for a new franchise looking to gain traction.
Paul George’s contract will be viewed as unattractive by the majority of NBA front offices, leaving the Philadelphia 76ers with few options if they want to move away from the “Big Three” vision they once created. An expansion draft would be the ideal opportunity to cut their losses and transition to a new blueprint.
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