The Los Angeles Clippers are heading to the offseason with questions surrounding the team; the biggest one being Paul George’s contract. Since the Clippers made the Western Conference Finals in 2021, they missed the playoffs in 2022, and had back to back first round playoff exits. When the Clippers made the trade for Paul George and signed Kawhi Leonard back in 2019, they had Championship aspirations. It has been five years for the George-Leonard era and they have only made it to the conference finals once. Now as we enter the 2024 offseason with disappointment after disappointment, this era for the Clippers could be coming to an end.
The Clippers already gave Kawhi Leonard a three year deal for $152.4 million. However, that is not the case for George as he has a player option for the 2024-2025 NBA season in which he plans to decline. If he declines it, he will become an unrestricted free agent. The Clippers have the ability to offer him a four-year, $221 million deal. However, they refuse to pay George that money and are unwilling to top what they gave Leonard in any contract talks for Paul George according to Kevin O’Conner of the ringer.
Evaluating the Paul George Contract Situation with the LA Clippers
76ers Top Option for Paul George If He Choses to Leave
If the Clippers refuse to increase their offer, that will create an opportunity for other teams to land George in free agency like the Philadelphia 76ers.
Imagine PG in Philly 🤯
How far would this team go?
(via @KevinOConnorNBA) pic.twitter.com/3Bf84rbpx5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2024
According to Kevin O’Connor the Philadelphia 76ers plan is to pursue Paul George if he enters free agency. The 76ers can offer him a four year, $212 million deal, which would make it more than what the Clippers have been offering him.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted the 76ers’ “desire to sign Paul George is well known.”
Why the Clippers Might Be Hesitant to Re-Sign Paul George
Paul George who is 34 years old and with Kawhi Leonard being 33 years old, with both players having a history of injury concerns. As this was the first year since 2018 were George has played more than 60 games. Leonard has not played 70 games in one season since 2017. There is definitely a reason why the clippers are hesitant to re-sign Paul George in a contract extension, to keep committing to this duo for multiple years into the future. Especially with the Western Conference being as loaded as it is with a bunch of young rising stars.
George is still playing at a high level still when healthy averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from deep. The production is still their for George and it would make sense for the Clippers to want him back. However, is giving a contract extension to Paul George their best path forward to still compete in the West and because of that they may not be willing to offer him more than a team like the 76ers would.
