Report: Paul George Wanted To Join Warriors, Clippers Never Agreed To Any Version Of A Trade

According to NBA insider Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, Paul George wanted to join the Golden State Warriors. 

However, the Los Angeles Clippers never agreed to any version of a trade.

George declined his 2024-25 player option with the Clippers. He will meet with the Clippers, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers once free agency starts. 

“The Warriors had agreed to give George a max, four-year extension upon arrival,” Kawakami wrote. “They believed they had proposed several variations of a trade that the Clippers could and would accept. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were 100 percent on board. George gave strong indications he wanted to join the Warriors. But the Clippers never agreed to any version of a trade, and now George is a free agent and essentially beyond the Warriors’ reach.”

One of the top players in the NBA, 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.

The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games, while the Warriors missed the postseason. 

“Any possible PG13 trade between the Warriors and Clippers was always going to be complicated, but Warriors executives thought they’d solved the puzzle,” Kawakami wrote. “From what I’ve heard, some combination (but definitely not all) of Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody plus one future first-round pick were put into discussions with the Clippers.”

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. 

George has made nine All-Star teams, six All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams.

The Warriors are prepared to lose Klay Thompson in free agency. Thompson will likely sign with the Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks.