According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Paul George continues to seek a new four-year contract.
George could pick up his 2024-25 player option and request a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Among the key elements regarding Paul George’s future with the Clippers or elsewhere: League sources say that the 34-year-old continues to seek a new four-year contract,” Stein wrote. “Returning to the Clippers has long been regarded as George’s preferred scenario, but L.A. is believed to this point to be offering a shorter deal along the lines of what it struck with Kawhi Leonard. In January, without warning, it was announced that Leonard had signed a three-year extension with the Clippers in the $150 million range.
“Can George nudge the Clippers into giving him a four-year deal — longer than Leonard’s — by seriously entertaining his departure? That’s the ongoing dance this week. Trades involving George are generally complicated … even if he does decide before week’s end (as PG-13 is said to be contemplating) to pick up his $48.8 million player option for next season.”
The Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors are interested in trading for George, sources told Hoops Wire.
George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks 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 in six games.
George and Leonard joined the Clippers in the summer of 2019. LAC hasn’t been to the NBA Finals in franchise history.
George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers. He was born and raised in Palmdale, California.
According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Law Murray of The Athletic, the Clippers discussed George trade scenarios at the February trade deadline.
“Only George knows how he truly sees his situation, but it’s worth remembering that the Clippers are known to have shown a willingness to discuss him in a select few trade scenarios heading into the February deadline,” Amick and Murray wrote. “The internal calculus was different back then, of course, with the absence of a new deal with George leaving the Clippers concerned that they might ultimately lose him for nothing in return in free agency.”
George has made nine All-Star teams, six All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams.
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