76ers Rumors: Tyrese Maxey to Sign Contract After Salary Cap Used on NBA Free Agents

Tyrese Maxey’s five-year, $205 million contract extension is coming. He’s just going to have to wait on it a bit longer.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Philadelphia 76ers plan to “swiftly” re-sign Maxey once they have used their cap space in free agency.

The Sixers are slated to have max-level room but will need to time their new signings in a certain order to make the deals work under the cap. Maxey has a cap hold of just $13 million, so holding out and waiting to use their space was always the plan. While a team could attempt to foil that plan by offering Maxey an offer sheet, there’s no chance he signs it given the Sixers can offer him the most long-term security.

Both the team and Maxey have both been open about following this plan since before the start of last season.

“At the end of the day, like I said, it’s a competition,” Maxey told reporters before the start of the 2023-24 season. “We have one goal in mind and I love Philly. I know this is the business. I know this is how it goes and I’m a happy person. This is my life. I’m happy with it.”

While he had to be patient in waiting for his nine-figure payday, Maxey likely made himself some money along the way. He solidified himself into a max-contract player last season, averaging 25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists on his way to making his first All-Star team and winning Most Improved Player.

The Sixers are expected to be aggressive early in the free-agency period, with Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Paul George among their top targets.