Paul George told his team over the weekend that he was talking to another team.
George’s Move to Philadelphia:
At first, there were rumors about him joining the Warriors, but soon it became clear he was heading to the 76ers. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that George’s agent, Aaron Mintz, informed Clippers president Lawrence Frank on Sunday night. The Clippers then announced George’s departure.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” said the club in a statement. They praised him as a tremendous talent and highlighted his contributions over five years, including three All-Star appearances and memorable performances against Utah in 2021.
BREAKING: Free agent F Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. George committed in a meeting with Sixers officials and returns East to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title.
https://t.co/pkCfGu3hyp
Reflecting on Past Decisions:
The Clippers recalled their big move five years ago when they paired Paul and Kawhi Leonard by trading away significant assets. Despite not winning a championship, they appreciated their chances with Paul.
George’s decision came after failed contract talks last season where he could have signed for four years and $221 million. The Clippers had hoped to keep him after extending Kawhi’s contract but negotiations fell through.
Fans are really sad about this move.
Future Plans Under New CBA:
The team now understands they need to be careful with roster construction under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). “Heading into this offseason, our roster was constructed [with] three great players 33 and over,” they said. They aimed to retain them within new CBA constraints but couldn’t reach an agreement with George.
Considering how punitive the CBA is for taxpaying teams like theirs, losing Paul gives them more flexibility now. They plan to stay competitive alongside Leonard and Harden at their new home in Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.
“We negotiated for months…the gap was significant,” expressed the LA team. They even explored an opt-in trade scenario but found it unfeasible under new CBA rules due to asset value restrictions.
Looking Forward:
Though gaining more flexibility this summer around tax and salary cap issues, the Clippers will deeply miss their veteran shooting guard who left a lasting impact on fans and franchise alike
“We will miss Paul,” assured the team while expressing excitement about new opportunities ahead. With Kawhi still being an all-NBA player and Ty Lue considered one of the best coaches around; they believe they’ll remain highly competitive moving forward at Intuit Dome.
