Paul George is unlikely to return to the LA Clippers next season after his agents and the organization weren’t able to come to an agreement over a new deal. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the two sides expect George to leave, as the Clippers refuse to meet George’s demands for a four-year deal, only offering three years.
The Clippers have remained steadfast on a three-year deal, similar to structure of Kawhi Leonard’s contract structure. George is seeking a four-year deal. Without George, the Clippers are proceeding into free agency armed with a $12.9M MLE and a $4.7M Bi-Annual exception.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
Woj also added that the 76ers are now the frontrunners to land the former All-Star, with his agents meeting with the 76ers tonight in California. The Clippers wanted to structure George’s contract similar to Kawhi Leonard’s contract, whereas George wanted more years. Woj then added that the Clippers and George are done, barring any changes in their situations.
More than just "unlikely," the Clippers and Paul George are moving on from each other, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
The Clippers provided a statement as the news of George’s departure was broken. They detailed the nature of their negotiations and claimed the two sides were far off on terms, and couldn’t agree on a team-friendly deal that complies with the CBA. The Clippers thanked Paul for his tenure in the statement.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team. Paul is a tremendous talent and an elite two-way player. We feel fortunate for the five years we spent with him. Over that span, he went to three All-Star Games, made the most 3-pointers in franchise history, and helped lead the team to a place it had never been. His performances in Games 5 and 6 against Utah in 2021 won’t be forgotten by anyone associated with the Clippers.”
“We traded a lot to pair Paul and Kawhi, and in exchange, we had five seasons of contention. Even though we feel short of our ultimate objective, we appreciate the chances we had with Paul.”
“Heading into this offseason, our roster was constructed (of) three great players 33 and over, two of who could become free agents. We wanted to retain them on contracts that would allow us, under the constraints of the new CBA, to continue building the team.”
“We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract. We explored an opt-in and trade scenario, but it would have left us in a similar position under the new CBA, with very little asset value to justify the restrictions.”
“We will miss Paul. At the same time, we’re excited by the opportunities we’ve been afforded, including greater flexibility under the new CBA. Kawhi is an all-NBA player and we believe T Lue is the best coach in the league. We will field a highly competitive team this season, and moving forward, use our organizational advantages to bring top talent to Intuit Dome.”
George is expected to sign with the 76ers, although there are no guarantees in free agency. He will meet other teams as well, but the 76ers are the front runners and are likely to sign George to a deal in the coming days to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, as they attempt to compete in a tougher Eastern Conference.
Paul George Can Change The Game For 76ers
Paul George is still a solid player in the NBA and can provide both scoring and defense for any team that he joins. Last season, he played 74 games and averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, solid numbers considering he was a second, sometimes even third option for the Clippers.
George will undoubtedly improve the 76ers, although concerns about his age and a long-term deal are valid. With George already 34 years old, he will be pushing 40 at the end of a four-year deal and could become a bad contract very quickly, with his injury problems.
Where will Paul George end up in free agency? Stay tuned to Fadeaway World for all the updates and information on this and all the happenings from free agency.
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