Paul George leaving the Clippers was perhaps the biggest storyline of the summer but the cracks were starting to show long before he actually left. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes (who spoke on the #ThisLeague UNCUT Podcast), the front office was caught off guard by George’s extreme contract demands.
“[Paul George] did an interview and stated that ‘Kawhi is the number one. I’m the number two.’ He verbally said that,” said Haynes. “We can tell. Look at their game. We can tell whose numbers are better. We can see who’s number one and who’s number two. [The Clippers] believed he believed that and they tried to use that in their contract negotiations. And I think the Clippers were caught by surprise too when they found out Paul was trying to get what Kawhi got and then trying to get even more than Kawhi got with the 4th year.”
George, 34, was the 10th overall pick in 2010. After blossoming into a star with the Pacers, he rose as one of the best two-way wings in the game. After a brief stint with the Thunder, George finally landed on the Clippers, where he arrived in what was essentially a package deal with Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard and George were hailed as one of the best duos in the league for years and they made a run to the West Finals in 2021. Together, they transformed the Clippers from a laughing stock to respectable. Unfortunately, that’s as far as it ever got.
This summer, Paul George left the team to join the 76ers and officially ended his Clippers tenure without a single Finals appearance to show for it. Despite being 34 and the team’s second-best player, he wanted to be paid and treated like the top dog. When the Clippers were unwilling to pay the price, George decided to jump ship yet again and now the franchise finds itself down a star.
Kawhi Leonard Says Nothing Changes For The Clippers After Losing Paul George
Clippers fans can’t help but feel a sense of panic about their situation after watching one of their top stars walk away for nothing. With Kawhi, James Harden, and two-way veteran role-players, many believe the Clippers took a set down on the West.
For Kawhi Leonard, however, it’s business as usual for his club even after the departure of his top teammate and co-star.
“How much will be on me to lead the team? The same as it was last year,” said Leonard. “It don’t change.”
Kawhi Leonard on how much will fall on him to lead the team without Paul George:
“How much will be on me to lead the team? The same like it was last year. It don’t change.”
(🎥 @FlyByKnite)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 9, 2024
The Clippers finished 4th in the West last season with a 51-31 record. But after losing to the Mavericks in the first round, there were questions about what it was worth to keep the roster intact.
With George gone, it will be up to James Harden to step up and provide the offensive punch needed to fill George’s shoes. With guys like Josh Primo, Kai Jones, and Mo Bamba filling out the rotation, the team has clearly prioritized depth over star power.
Even so, Kawhi’s role does not change. As the max player and multiple-time champion, it will be on his shoulders to carry the Clippers to a state of contention and there is strong belief internally that he can get them there with a strong rotation of players at every position.
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