NBA Analyst Says Cavaliers ‘Would Be A Perfect Fit’ For Paul George

One NBA analyst believes the Cleveland Cavaliers “would be a perfect fit” for Paul George. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report thinks George on the Cavaliers next to Donovan Mitchell would make Cleveland a legitimate title contender. 

“If George has hesitation about leaving an injury-plagued star in Kawhi Leonard to team up with another one in Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers, the nine-time All-Star should look to join a different Eastern Conference contender instead,” Swartz wrote. “The Cleveland Cavaliers would be a perfect fit for George, a team needing an athletic, two-way wing with playoff experience to take them to the next level. If Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley both sign extensions with the Cavs this summer, George should be excited with the future of the team.

“The most likely trade piece in this scenario would be Darius Garland, who agent Rich Paul should be thrilled to see move to Los Angeles. Garland would make the Clippers younger and is enough of an off-ball threat to share a backcourt with James Harden should L.A. bring him back as well. The Cavs would need to send one more salary (Georges Niang) to make the money work.

“A starting five of Mitchell, Max Strus, George, Mobley and Jarrett Allen with Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro (restricted free agent), Dean Wade and Sam Merrill off the bench would make for a formidable team in the East and give George a far better chance at a title than staying in L.A.”

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, George will likely pick up his 2024-25 player option and request a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers if he wants to change teams. 

The Clippers haven’t offered George the money he wants in an extension. 

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Clippers in 2023-24 while shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 90.7% from the free-throw line. LAC has until June 30 to sign George to an extension.

The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

George and Leonard joined the Clippers in the offseason of 2019. LAC hasn’t been to the NBA Finals in franchise history. 

George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers. He was born and raised in Palmdale, California.