Everyone has their own opinion of Paul George’s contract and whether he should stay with the Los Angeles Clippers or go to another contender. Former Clipper and three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams gave his thoughts on George’s upcoming free agency.
Former Sixth Man of the Year Weighs in on Paul George’s Contract
Lou Williams gives his prediction on Paul George’s Free Agency
The Clippers have a lot of questions to answer this offseason, like the free agency of James Harden, who arrived in Los Angeles early in the 2023-24 season. The health of Kawhi Leonard, which has been an issue since the beginning of his Clippers’ career, and whether Tyronn Lue will remain the Head Coach, the position he’s held since 2020. Despite these uncertainties, Paul George’s looming free agency and contract have to be first on their list.
Lou Williams, who won two Sixth Man of the Year awards in 2018 and 2019 for the Clippers recently gave his thoughts on whether George would return to his hometown Los Angeles Clippers or leave to play elsewhere. He said the following in his most recent appearance on FanDuelTV’s Run it Back show, alongside Shams Charania, Michelle Beadle, and eight-year NBA veteran Chandler Parsons.
“Paul George ain’t going nowhere. He’s a southern California Kid, his roots are here, his family is here, his parents have an opportunity to watch him every game, go to the comfort of their home after those games. His kids are going to school out here… Paul George ain’t going nowhere.”
Overview of Paul George’s Clippers Career
Since trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and seven first-round draft picks (two pick swaps) to the Oklahoma City Thunder for George, his Clippers tenure has been up and down. Since joining the Clippers in 2019, George has three All-Star appearances and only one All-NBA selection, which was third-team All-NBA in the 2020-21 season. He has played in over 60 games in a season only once in the five years he has been in LA, which happened this past season.
It has not been all negative, as George played a crucial part in leading the Clippers to their franchise’s first Western Conference Finals in 2021. Notably, he averaged 26.9 points per game over their run. George is also the reason two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard signed with the Clippers in 2019.
2023-24 Season Review
Stemming from their early season acquisition of Harden, the Clippers’ expectations for the season were championship or bust. While they battled system issues and injuries, the Clippers landed the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Ultimately they fell in six games to the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks. Leonard only played two games in the playoffs. George averaged less than 20 points per game in the playoffs for the first time since his second season in the league.
With George going into next season at 34 years old, it’s pretty clear his next contract will be his last max deal. So it makes sense for him to weigh all of his options. Luckily for Clippers fans, team owner Steve Ballmer has shown no issue paying players well into the NBA’s Luxury Tax. However, due to his very dynamic season, George did not always show that he still deserves a max contract. With the Clippers struggling with salary cap space, the team needs to save money where they can. Which leaves the door open for George to get a max contract elsewhere. The 76ers have been one of the top teams rumored to land George if he leaves the Clippers.
