Will Paul George still be a Clipper? That will be the biggest question this summer.
George has a $48.8 million player option for next season, which he is expected to decline or extend to seek a new, longer-term contract. At 34 years old, this is probably the last big contract he will get.
George remains a tremendously productive player. He made his ninth All-Star Game this season averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and playing stellar defense. He is the ideal 6-8 wing that every team looks for. Despite his immense ability, the Clippers have been reluctant to offer him a max extension. That has opened the door for George to potentially leave this summer.
If George opts out of his deal to become an unrestricted free agent, there will be massive demand for his services. This is a very poor free agent class: DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and James Harden are the only other players available with All-Star potential next year.
While everyone would want a player like George, only a few are truly positioned to be able to make it happen. These are the teams that have a realistic chance of achieving it.
Paul George landing spots and free agency destinations
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The Clippers are the favorites to re-sign George. George is a California native and seems happy playing for the team.
The Clippers traded a lot of money to acquire him, and owner Steve Ballmer hasn’t been shy about doling out big paychecks. They can offer him the most money: up to a four-year extension for $221.1 million. according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. They have until June 30 to finalize that extension.
The Clippers have been reluctant to offer that deal. They negotiated a slightly below-max extension for Kawhi Leonard during the season, and it appears they will do the same with George. If those two sides can’t come to an agreement, then there will be plenty of teams putting pressure on Los Angeles.
76ers
It’s no secret that the 76ers have been targeting George. They have the ability to free up more than $60 million in cap space and form a dynamic trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They are the only contending team capable of accomplishing this financially without making other complicated trades to fix their salary cap. That makes them the likely second spot if the Clippers decide to move on from their star player.
The 76ers (or any other team) could offer George a four-year maximum contract worth $212.2 million. according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. His deal would start at $49.4 million, which would still give the team enough cap space to add one or two quality starters in free agency before filling out the rest of the roster with smaller exceptions, drafted players and minimum salaries. .
Thunder
Could a Thunder reunion be in the works for George? They are a great contending team that could use another winger like him in their lineup. They would certainly be one of the best teams in the league if they could get it.
The Thunder are projected to have $35 million in cap space. via Spotrac. That’s not enough to make a serious run at George, so they would have to make some deals to make more room.
The easiest way to make way for George would be to trade Lu Dort. That would be painful: He’s been tremendous as a threat at the point of attack and is much improved at 39.4 percent shooting from 3-point range this season.
George spoke highly of his time in Oklahoma City previously and re-signed with the team in 2018. A return would be his best chance at winning a ring.
Magic
The Magic are rumored to have interest in George, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Like the Thunder, they have money to spend, but they would have to make some ancillary moves to increase their projected $19 million in cap space.
Orlando has team options on Joe Ingles and Mo Wagner that it could choose not to exercise, making them free agents. Nor could he guarantee the $17.4 million owed to Jonathan Isaac. That would leave enough room to offer George a maximum.
George would give the Magic an extra scorer along with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner that the team desperately needs. Magic was 22nd offense during the regular season, relying more on their number 3 defenseman to win games. They are a promising team. A veteran like George could give them home field advantage in the playoffs next year.
Knicks
The path to bringing George to the Knicks is much more complicated. They have no cap space and would have to negotiate a trade to include him on the roster.
The Clippers are prevented from adding players via sign-and-trade because they are projected to be on the shelf. But they can trade George if he picks up his $48.8 million player option instead of signing an entirely new contract.
The Knicks would have to move Julius Randle and Bojan Bogdanovic to reach George’s salary figure. They would also have to add picks to make the deal worth it for the Clippers. They have all of their own picks to offer, along with the Mavs’ 24th pick in 2024 and three picks in 2025.
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The Pacers are another team without functional cap space that would have to go the option-and-trade route to acquire George. His schedule doesn’t quite match the veteran’s, but there could be interest from George.
Yahoo’s Jake Fischer reported During the February trade deadline, there were “growing rumors” about “George’s own scheming in returning to Indiana and becoming Tyrese Haliburton’s latest running mate alongside Siakam.” It would be incredible to see that trio and immediately elevate them to true contender status in the East.
The Pacers don’t have many big salaries to send to make this trade work. They would have to include Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, TJ McConnell and one of Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker, and then fill out the rest of their team with cheap players. They would also need to add draft capital: They have two future first-round picks available to trade.