Clippers Expected ‘To Go All Out To Keep’ Paul George, James Harden

According to NBA insider Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Los Angeles Clippers are expected to go all out to keep Paul George and James Harden regardless of how they fare in the 2024 playoffs. 

George can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option, while Harden will become a free agent since he’s in the final year of his contract. 

The Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $149 million extension in January. They are moving into a new $2 billion arena in Inglewood next season.

“The perennially hyped, perennially hurt Clippers have been crashing and burning nearly every postseason, but few execs expect a breakup if they flop again this spring,” Beck wrote. “The franchise already signed Kawhi Leonard to an extension and is expected to go all out to keep Paul George and James Harden regardless of how they fare in the playoffs because the Clippers are moving into a new $2 billion arena in Inglewood next season.”

The Clippers are 36-17. They are in third place in the Western Conference standings. With Leonard, George, Harden and Russell Westbrook leading the way, the Clippers look like legitimate title contenders.

Many people around the NBA expected the Clippers to sign George to an extension after they signed Leonard to one. Even though George and LAC haven’t agreed to an extension yet, NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN expects the two sides to come to terms on a new deal before free agency starts. 

“I don’t know what’s going on with the Paul George extension talks, but my expectation based on what I’ve heard is that sometime, whether it’s during the season, after the season, whenever, I would bet pretty heavily that the Clippers get that deal done and that he’s not a functional free agent either,” Lowe said on The Lowe Post podcast.

George is averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 45.8% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc and 91.0% from the free-throw line. He’s making $45.6 million.

Meanwhile, Harden is averaging 17.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 45.0% overall, 42.1% from 3 and 87.4% from the foul line. He’s making $35.6 million.