According to NBA reporter Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Los Angeles Clippers are not willing to offer Paul George more than the three-year, $152.3 million extension they gave Kawhi Leonard in January.
George has the option to become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option worth $48.8 million.
The Clippers have until June 30 to sign George to an extension.
“According to league sources, Los Angeles was unwilling to offer George more than the three-year, $152.3 million extension it gave to Kawhi Leonard,” Pompey wrote. “However, the 34-year-old is eligible to receive a four-year, $221 million contract. The Sixers and other suitors can offer a four-year, $212 million contract. The Clippers are holding out hope that George, a Southern California native, will take less money to remain close to home.”
The Philadelphia 76ers believe they have a real chance of signing George away from the Clippers. The Sixers are projected to have $60 million in cap space this summer.
One of the top two-way players in the NBA, 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.
Both the Clippers and Sixers were eliminated in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Los Angeles lost to the Dallas Mavericks, while Philadelphia lost to the New York Knicks.
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.
According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Law Murray of The Athletic, the Clippers discussed George trade scenarios at the February trade deadline.
LAC has never been to the NBA Finals in franchise history.
“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.”
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