PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The LA Clippers “very much” want to retain All-Star guard Paul George, but they’ll have to see how things play out as Saturday’s deadline to exercise his $48.8 million player option approaches.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said the team has had ongoing conversations with George and his agent, Aaron Mintz.
The Clippers can sign George to an extension of up to four years and $221 million, but the two sides have been unable to reach an extension agreement for months.
If an extension isn’t reached by Saturday’s deadline, George can either become a free agent or accept his deal. Even if George opts out of the final year of his contract, he could try to work out a deal with the Clippers to another team.
But the Clippers, who signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $150 million contract extension in January, are hopeful that George will want to stay home and close to his family, since he grew up in nearby Palmdale.
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“We love Paul,” Frank said after the Clippers selected Minnesota guard Cam Christie with the 46th pick in the second round. “We really want to retain Paul, but we also understand and respect the fact that this is a business.”
Frank added: “We hope Paul’s decision is to be here. He’s been unbelievable. He’s been an All-Star. He’s one of the best two-way players in the league. He’s a great person. He’s got a great family, so we hope he’s here, but I also respect the fact that if he decides not to participate, it’s his choice. He’s earned it and we’ll see how things play out.”
Frank said the team has had productive conversations with James Harden, who is a free agent, and his agents, Mike Silverman and Troy Payne.
“We think James has been fantastic for us,” Frank said. “We hope he had a great experience while he was here and we hope he decides to continue here. … We very much want James to remain a Clipper and we hope he decides to do the same.”
Given how restrictive the new collective bargaining agreement will be for tax-paying teams like the Clippers, Frank acknowledged the organization has to make tough decisions to try to keep its stars on the same schedule.
“This is a business and the reality of the new CBA impacts teams like us,” Frank said. “When your best players are over 30 and you’re trying to build a sustainable roster, that impacts. Like if there wasn’t a CBA, with (owner) Steve Ballmer, it would be carte blanche. With the new CBA, it’s not even about the money, it’s about how you’re going to build a sustainable roster, maintain your tools to have transactional flexibility and with that comes some really tough decisions.”
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