If Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers decide to part ways this offseason, an NBA insider revealed a suitor who makes sense for the nine-time NBA All-Star.
It all comes down to George’s contract, KeynoteUSA’s Brian Windhorst reported Wednesday morning on “Get Up,” stating that Los Angeles has only been willing to offer George a three-year contract extension for slightly less than the contract. maximum, which is one year. less than the four-year deal George is seeking.
But Windhorst said some teams might be willing to give him the max he wants, including the Warriors.
“He wants a full max. And I’m told there are several teams out there that are prepared to give it to him, or are prepared to trade for him,” Windhorst said. “One of those teams is potentially on Golden State’s coast. Golden State is hunting for big shots. Remember, at the last trade deadline, they made a call on LeBron James. They’re sniffing around big deals.
“If Paul George is willing to leave, they would like to be an option for him.”
Windhorst’s report aligns with several others, including that of NBA insider Marc Stein, who wrote in his latest substack that the Warriors could look at George on the open market with Klay Thompson’s future uncertain.
“I’m pretty sure the Warriors are as interested in (Paul) George as the (New York) Knicks, maybe more so,” Stein wrote.
Stein added that there is “a growing feeling” around the league that it is increasingly realistic for George to exercise his $48.8 million player option for next season to force the Clippers to trade him after months of “unsuccessful” contract extension negotiations.
George has until Saturday, one day before free agency begins, to decide whether or not to exercise his player option for next season.
The Warriors are “aggressively” exploring trade options, Stein reported, with veteran guard Chris Paul at the center of those efforts. Golden State has until Friday to exercise or decline Paul’s $30 million team option for next season.
As George’s name continues to circulate among the rumor mills, Windhorst finds it hard to believe that he would want to leave the town where he grew up.
“Any of these places Paul would need to go via trade would have to be worked out with the Clippers,” Windhorst said. “The Clippers are in a position where they want to uncover Paul’s deception that he actually wanted to leave his hometown of Los Angeles.
“So that’s one of the most interesting things to see in terms of looks between now and this weekend.”
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