Report: Clippers Determined To Keep Paul George And James Harden

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Los Angeles Clippers are determined to keep Paul George and James Harden. 

George can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option, while Harden will hit unrestricted free agency automatically. 

“The Clippers are determined to keep Paul George and James Harden in free agency, and the organization will move into the new, state-of-the-art Intuit Dome for the start of next season,” Wojnarowski wrote. 

The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of this year’s playoffs in six games. 

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.

The Clippers acquired Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden appeared in 72 games with LAC and averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists while shooting 42.8% from the floor, 38.1% from 3 and 87.8% from the foul line. 

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 Sixers 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.”

Harden has career averages of 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists with the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Sixers and Clippers. He was born and raised in Los Angeles.