The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to retain guard Tyrese Maxey on a max contract, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Since he didn't make an All-NBA team, Maxey is entitled to earn up to $204.5 million over five years from Philadelphia.

The 2023-24 All-Star is eligible to become a restricted free agent and definitively showed this year he's a cornerstone-type talent. He averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range.

It would be more surprising if the Sixers didn't sign Maxey at the max.

The one unknown variable is when the deal comes together.

For now, Maxey only counts for $13 million on the 2024-25 payroll because that's his salary cap hold. Thanks to what on paper is a well below-market number, Philadelphia has the flexibility to sign a marquee free agent on a max contract to line up alongside Maxey and Joel Embiid.

Pompey reported Sunday the Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George, Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler or New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram are among their prospective targets.

If the 76ers were to sign Maxey first, then they'd sacrifice a sizable chunk of their cap space, which would then jeopardize their ability to make another big move. As a result, an extension for the 23-year-old can't be the franchise's first piece of business even if he is such an integral part of the roster.

ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaGlpYmiCdoGMp5maZaKqurC%2B0mZub52iqHq1xdGeqp5lnZbFpsWMnq%2BpnZOpsqV506hkrKGXo3p2ediemKtlYmWCrnnCqKWtqpGYwW6x162cp6uZpLs%3D