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The Los Angeles Clippers have had months to re-sign Paul George to a contract extension without making any progress.
Still, with less than two weeks remaining before free agency, they remain confident he’ll remain with the franchise.
“What the Clippers’ posture is, at least today, we’re not at open free agency yet, but at least today, they are believing that Paul George is going to want to stay home in L.A. where his family is, where he’s got roots, where he’s wanted to be,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Friday on First Take. “And that’s what’s going to be the rubber meets the road. We’re going to see which way he’s going to go. By the way, staying home in L.A. for three years at $150 million is hardly a consolation prize. But that is kind of where I think this is shaping up. The Clippers are like, ‘Here’s our offer, this is where your home is, stay here. If you want more money, then you got to go do it, then that’s fine.’ This is what they’re doing right now.”
The Clippers have seemingly drawn a line in the sand, refusing to pay George more than the three-year, $149.7 million contract they gave Kawhi Leonard in January. At the time of Leonard’s extension, the thought process seemed pretty straightforward. Offer George the same amount, continue their trajectory together and move forward.
However, it seems like one of the two sides have balked at that type of arrangement. George could reasonably push for a full max contract given his recent injury history is cleaner than Leonard’s.
A four-year maximum contract extension would be worth $221.1 million. It would not make sense for George to sign a five-year contract with the Clippers due to the NBA’s over-38 rule, so the team’s leverage is more limited than typical incumbents in trade talks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers have been often mentioned as potential suitors if George reaches the open market. However, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Sixers’ interest in George has “significantly waned” as the free-agency period approaches.
George previously played two seasons with the Thunder from 2017 to 2019, but it would be a surprise to see him return to OKC given he pushed for a trade to Los Angeles five years ago.
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