{"id":71126,"date":"2024-03-30T08:17:52","date_gmt":"2024-03-30T12:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=71126"},"modified":"2024-03-30T08:17:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-30T12:17:52","slug":"eastern-conference-playoff-mainstay-three-teams-pursue-paul-george-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/30\/eastern-conference-playoff-mainstay-three-teams-pursue-paul-george-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Conference Playoff Mainstay Among Three Teams To Pursue Paul George This Summer?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles Clippers star wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Paul George<\/strong><\/a> has an upcoming decision that could affect the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/19\/eastern-conference-teams-monitoring-perennial-nba-all-star-paul-george\/\" target=\"_self\">Eastern Conference<\/a> hierarchy.<\/p>\n<p>George has a $48.7 million player option for next year. But the 33-year-old wants a new deal, saying he was &#8220;very, very optimistic&#8221; that his representatives and the Clippers would work out a deal, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/39284727\/kawhi-leonard-hopes-deal-helps-clippers-keep-george-harden\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ESPN&#8217;s Ohm Youngmisuk.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I mean, absolutely,&#8221; George said when asked whether<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leonaka01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong> Kawhi Leonard&#8217;s<\/strong><\/a> extension, which occurred on January 10, is a stepping stone to him staying. &#8220;You secure and lock in Kawhi. Definitely leaves the door open for myself, but very, very optimistic something will get done on my behalf, as well. We&#8217;re working through it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Eastern Conference Playoff Mainstay To Pursue Paul George This Summer?<\/h2>\n<p>Fast-forward nearly three months, and George still doesn&#8217;t have a deal. On the Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN&#8217;s Adrian Wojnarowski indicated a gap between what the Clippers are offering and what George wants.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe word in the NBA is that they\u2019re apart. It\u2019s not like, let\u2019s have a big problem. They\u2019re apart.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>I think the league believes that\u00a0<\/em>Paul George\u00a0<em>wants to remain a Clipper, and there would be concern in the league about recruiting Paul George \u2014 especially if you had to give away players to open up space<\/em><\/p>\n<p>,<em>\u2026 My informed speculation is that, eventually, Paul will agree to a deal with the Clippers. It may not be for the full max, but it may be for more than what the Clippers have been offering<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Joel Embiid&#039;s Return, Future For PG &amp; Donovan Mitchell + T-Wolves Ownership \ud83c\udfc0 | The Hoop Collective\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cgkzWAn-FI4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Wojnaroski&#8217;s report substantiates NBA Insider Marc Stein&#8217;s thoughts about George&#8217;s situation last week when he said that the Clipper&#8217;s offers to George \u201chave fallen an unknown amount shy of the numbers contained\u201d in Leonard\u2019s extension. However, Stein iterated that he still believed George would remain in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>George and the Clippers have until June 30 to work out an extension. However, if George opts into the player option, the sides will have another year to work out a new contract.<\/p>\n<p>George is eligible to sign a four-year, $221.1 million deal with the Clippers, per<a href=\"https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/10114411-will-la-clippers-extend-paul-george-with-philadelphia-76ers-looming\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Bleacher Report&#8217;s Eric Pincus<\/a>.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 Pincus added that the max he can sign for with another team is four years and $212.2 million.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Could Pursue George If He Opts Out?<\/h3>\n<p>Wojnarowski mentioned that six teams project to have enough cap space to make a bid for George if he leaves Los Angeles. The Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and the Orlando Magic are the teams that project to have available cap space.<\/p>\n<p>Detroit, Utah, and San Antonio are rebuilding, and while George would make all three teams inherently better immediately, he doesn&#8217;t make any of the squads instant contenders. Therefore, he is not on those three teams&#8217; &#8220;timeline.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, George could theoretically increase his legacy by guiding the Sixers, Thunder, and Magic to the Promised Land.<\/p>\n<h4>Philadelphia 76ers<\/h4>\n<p>Philadelphia is getting all the buzz about George.<\/p>\n<p>For good reason, the 76ers have<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/maxeyty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <strong>Tyrese Maxey<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Joel Embiid<\/strong><\/a> and $58.3 million in cap space. Maxey is slated to be a restricted free agent, but there is no way the Sixers will let him walk. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reedpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Paul Reed<\/strong><\/a> is the only player under contract for next year.<\/p>\n<p>Here is\u00a0 more from Pincus:<\/p>\n<div class=\"intersectionObserverRefElement\">\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"\">&#8220;George could be one of the top players in this year&#8217;s free-agent class, but at his age, he isn&#8217;t likely to be courted by rebuilding teams. According to multiple sources in and around the NBA, the Sixers have George at the top of their wish list and are expected to make him a significant offer if he becomes a free agent.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"intersectionObserverRefElement\">\n<p class=\"\">To get to that $49.4 million starting salary, the 76ers would need to initially wait on re-signing Tyrese Maxey and pare their roster down to just Embiid. Everyone else is either a free agent or non-guaranteed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"intersectionObserverRefElement\">\n<div class=\"molecule nr-video-manager\">\n<div id=\"video-wrapper-10114411_recommendedVideo\" class=\"molecule videoPlayer bitmovinPlayer integral-vid-d19fe9818d53a1cb7103d5ffc06aa488\" data-integralas-id-182bcf4f-2d0c-a41d-fc08-fb4f80c16731=\"\">\n<div id=\"video-10114411_recommendedVideo\" class=\"bitmovinplayer-container aspect-16x9\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-280\" class=\"bmpui-ui-uicontainer bmpui-flexbox bmpui-layout-max-width-800 bmpui-player-state-paused bmpui-controls-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Video player\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<blockquote>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-229\" class=\"bmpui-ui-playbacktoggle-overlay\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-image\">The Sixers could trade their first-round pick for future considerations in June, pushing their cap space to about $16.7 million left to spend after luring George, along with the $8 million room mid-level exception.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Oklahoma City Thunder<\/h3>\n<p>Oklahoma City has been attempting to bid something special over the last four seasons. The Thunder appear to be close to reaching that point, as they have reached the 50-win mark for the first time since 2015-16 with nine games left. George spent his first few seasons in the league with the Thunder.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gilgesh01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/strong>,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willija06.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jalen Williams<\/strong><\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holmgch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Chet Holmgren<\/strong><\/a> are budding stars. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willija06.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Josh Giddey<\/strong><\/a> has struggled this season, and the Thunder need a veteran leader who can play both ends of the floor.<\/p>\n<p>The Thunder have 12 players under contract for 2024-25, though they have some flexibility. The Thunder project to have around $40 million in cap space and could have three first round selections.<\/p>\n<h3>Orlando Magic<\/h3>\n<p>Orlando is poised to end its three-year drought. The Magic have reached 40 victories for the second time since 2011-12. However, the Magic are far from being a title contender. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banchpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Paolo Banchero<\/strong> <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wagnefr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Franz Wagner<\/strong> <\/a>are young players with lots of promise, but the rest of the roster are role players.<\/p>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-270\" class=\"bmpui-ui-recommendation-overlay bmpui-inline bmpui-hidden bmpui-recommendations\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<p>Orlando has 11 players under contract for next season with considerable flexibility. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/isaacjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jonathan Isaac&#8217;s<\/strong><\/a> team-high $17.4 million contract is fully nonguaranteed, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/inglejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Joe Ingles<\/strong><\/a> has a $11 million club option. The Magic could have as much as $62 million in cap space.<\/p>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-234\" class=\"bmpui-recommended-videos\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-237\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<h3>Where Will George End Up?<\/h3>\n<p>George is a Los Angeles native, and he likely prefers to finish his career in SoCal. Meanwhile, the Clippers have put all their &#8220;eggs&#8221; in the Leonard-George basket, but that could change as they move into their own arena, the Intuit Dome, in 2024-25. The Clippers are 123-57 when Leonard and George play together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-240\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-241\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-2\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-243\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-244\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-3\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-246\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-247\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-4\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-249\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-250\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-5\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-252\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-253\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-6\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-255\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-256\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-7\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-258\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-259\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-8\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-261\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"bmpui-id-262\" class=\"bmpui-ui-container bmpui-video-item bmpui-video-item-9\">\n<div class=\"bmpui-container-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles Clippers star wing Paul George has an upcoming decision that could affect the Eastern Conference hierarchy. George has a $48.7 million player option for next year. But the 33-year-old wants a new deal, saying he was &#8220;very, very optimistic&#8221; that his representatives and the Clippers would work out a deal, according to ESPN&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":71173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,62],"tags":[189,54,136,50,225],"class_list":["post-71126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-los-angeles-clippers","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","tag-orlando-magic","tag-paul-george","tag-philadelphia-76ers"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71126"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71126\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}