Report: Knicks Have ‘Never Seriously Pursued’ Paul George

According to NBA insider Fred Katz of The Athletic, the New York Knicks have “never seriously pursued” Paul George. 

George can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

“The Knicks have kicked George’s name around before, according to league sources, but they never seriously pursued him in a deal,” Katz wrote. “Even if the basketball fit is perfection, he’s 34, five years older than anyone in their current rotation, and has a history of injuries — though he played 74 games this past season for the first time in five years.

“The Clippers will be aggressive hoping to re-sign George, too, considering they don’t want a dampened-down version of a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs when they enter a new arena next season. Yet, the two sides not agreeing to an extension leaves the door cracked slightly open for other possibilities.”

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Clippers this season 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.

George and Kawhi 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.

The Philadelphia 76ers believe they have a real chance of signing George away from the Clippers, who signed Leonard to a three-year, $152 million extension in January.

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.”