76ers' Depth Chart, Salary Cap After Paul George, Tyrese Maxey's Rumored Contracts

The Philadelphia 76ers are loading up to compete with the big boys in the Eastern Conference next season, as they reportedly landed nine-time All-Star forward Paul George in free agency Monday morning.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, George agreed to a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Sixers after the Los Angeles Clippers announced he would not be re-signing with the organization.

With PG-13 now in the fold, the 76ers' projected depth chart for next season as things currently stand is as follows:

C: Joel Embiid / Andre Drummond

PF: Paul George / Paul Reed

SF: Kelly Oubre Jr. / Ricky Council IV

SG: Eric Gordon

PG: Tyrese Maxey / Jared McCain

Despite the reported signings of George, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond, the reported re-signing of Kelly Oubre Jr. and the reported signing of Maxey to a five-year, $204 million max contract in restricted free agency, the Sixers still have several open roster spots.

Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, De'Anthony Melton, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and Kyle Lowry are all key players from last season who have hit unrestricted free agency this offseason.

Per Spotrac, the Sixers are currently projected $13.1 million under the first apron and $23.9 million under the second apron.

Philadelphia could still re-sign some of its free agents, but team president Daryl Morey also figures to look elsewhere in free agency as well. The Sixers still project to have more than $9 million in cap space, and they could try to lure ring-chasing veterans with minimum contracts.

As things currently stand, the 76ers seem to have the core needed to be big-time players in the Eastern Conference next season, although the competition will be stiff.

The reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics are returning essentially all of their key players, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will both be back for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Also, the New York Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, adding him to a core of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart.

Even the Indiana Pacers figure to be tough, as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season and will return Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner.

While there are no guarantees given how stacked the top of the Eastern Conference is, the Sixers feel like a safe bet for a top-four seed if their Big Three of Embiid, Maxey and George can stay healthy.

Health was a major issue for the 76ers last season, as Embiid missed 43 games due to injury, forcing Philly to go through the play-in tournament to even reach the playoffs.

George played in 74 games last season, but that was his most since 2018-19. He didn't appear in more than 56 games in a season in any of his first four campaigns in L.A.

The 76ers can ill afford for any of their Big Three to miss significant time next season, especially since their depth is somewhat suspect at the moment.

Oubre, Gordon and Drummond are solid supporting cast members surrounding the core. If the 76ers can keep them in that role, they will be a dangerous team next season.