The Philadelphia 76ers continue to stay busy.
Emerging superstar Tyrese Maxey agreed to a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension with the 76ers, according to multiple reports.
Maxey, who was a thorn in the Knicks’ side during the first round of the playoffs, was the 2023-24 Most Improved Player, averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game in his fourth NBA season.
The Kentucky product’s new deal renders him an average of $40.8 million per season, an average annual value that ranks 13th among NBA guards.
As 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid missed 43 games with a knee injury, Maxey, 23, carried the freight for Philadelphia, earning his first career All-Star nod.
Maxey had a penchant for big performances: The guard’s three 50-point games were tied for the most in the NBA last year.
Despite losing Embiid for most of the season, the 76ers went 47-35, finishing as the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed but falling to the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Maxey’s contract reflects continued growth, having elevated his average number of points per game every season since joining the pro ranks.
Sixers owner Josh Harris and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey have unequivocally been the most active team of the NBA free agency cycle thus far.
The most notable move made by the tandem was inking nine-time All-Star Paul George to a gigantic four-year, $212 million deal, which was reported Monday.
Philly also kept forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and added dynamic rebounding center Andre Drummond.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Maxey and his camp “waited a year on the deal” in order to allow the 76ers to have cap space for other additions.
With Embiid, George and Maxey all under contract with the franchise for the next three years, the 76ers should have as good of a title chance as any in recent team memory in that span.
Philadelphia has made the playoffs each of the last seven years but hasn’t even reached the Eastern Conference finals since 2001.
Bitter losses in closely contested series to the Knicks, as well as the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks in the semifinals have derailed promising campaigns.
Barring injury, Philly should now have the pieces to vie for the Eastern Conference crown in head coach Nick Nurse’s second season at the helm.