If Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers decide to part ways this offseason, an NBA insider has revealed a guy who would be a good fit for the nine-time NBA All-Star.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on “Get Up” Wednesday morning that it all depends on George’s contract, stating that Los Angeles is only willing to give George a three-year contract extension for slightly less than the max, which is one year less than the four-year deal George was seeking.
But Windhorst claimed some teams might be willing to offer the max he wants — including the Warriors.
“He wants a full-out max. And I’m told there are multiple teams willing to give him that, or willing to trade for him,” Windhorst said. “One of those teams is potentially up the coast in Golden State. Golden State is hunting big fish. Remember, last trade deadline, they made the call about LeBron James. They’re thinking about big deals.”
“If Paul George is ready to leave, they would want to be an option for him.”
Windhorst’s report matches reports from several others, including one from NBA insider Marc Stein, who wrote in his latest Substack that the Warriors could be eyeing George on the open market due to Klay Thompson’s uncertain future.
“I’m pretty sure the Warriors are just as interested in (Paul) George as the (New York) Knicks are — maybe even more,” Stein wrote.
Stein said there is a “growing feeling” across the league that it is becoming increasingly realistic that George will pick up his $48.8 million player option for next season, forcing the Clippers to trade him after months of “fruitless” contract extension talks.
George has until Saturday, the day before free agency begins, to decide whether to pick up his option as a player for the upcoming season.
Stein reported that the Warriors are “aggressively” exploring trade options, with veteran point 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.
While George’s name continues to circulate through rumors, Windhorst has a hard time believing he would want to leave the town he grew up in.
“Paul will have to work with the Clippers on whatever destination he ends up going to via trade,” Windhorst said. “The Clippers are in a position where they want to disprove Paul’s statement that he actually wants to leave his hometown of L.A.
“So that’s one of the most interesting things to watch between now and this weekend.”
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