Paul George’s Clippers future to be influenced by playoff series vs. Mavericks

The Clippers and Kawhi agreed on a $152 million contract extension in January that keeps him with the organization through the 2026-27 season. When this occurred, many believed that owner Steve Ballmer would immediately turn his attention to George in order to offer him the very same extension. Four months later, the Clippers are on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs, and not one word has been spoken about a new contract for George.

Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, a new era of Clippers basketball is set to begin next season, with Ballmer moving the team to his new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. They will no longer need to share facilities and an arena with the Lakers as a result. It is also expected that the organization looks to retain Harden, who will be entering free agency with little to no suitors as of right now. George is the piece of their championship puzzle that they really don’t know much about.

After taking less money than he could have on a new extension, Kawhi assured the Clippers that he wanted to be all-in to win a championship. It is clear to see that he is committed to the franchise. The same can’t be said about George right now.

Does George want to remain in Los Angeles, or does the idea of jumping ship to join a more established contender make more sense at this point in his career? Five years have gone by for the Clippers, and it kind of seems like they have gone backward in terms of postseason progression, especially if they are to be ousted from the playoffs by the Mavs. This roster continues to get older as the rest of the hierarchy in the Western Conference gets younger. Doubt is a powerful emotion, and it’s one that has appeared with the Clippers facing their 3-2 deficit in the playoffs.

No extension has come for George. It doesn’t appear as if there is one on the horizon either. Still, the strong belief the Clippers held earlier in the season regarding George’s future remains today. Everyone in the Clippers’ front office wants George to stay, and this is partly due to the fact that there aren’t any options to replace him. Even before he has to make a decision on his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season, a new four-year extension for George would pay him upwards of $220 million, aligning him with Leonard’s contract. By signing an extension with the Clippers, George would lock himself into the same amount of money any other team around the league can offer him should he become a free agent, and he would provide the organization with a sense of flexibility as they turn their attention towards keeping Harden, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

In the event that George enters free agency and seriously considers leaving the Clippers, this organization will be left with a payroll that exceeds $120 million. Perhaps a sign-and-trade involving George would be beneficial to them, at least salvaging value in the event that the All-Star leaves, but this isn’t a scenario Ballmer and his team want to see play out. When fully healthy, the Clippers believe that they can be the best team in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, time is not their friend right now, and it truly seems like the clock is about to strike midnight.

The fact of the matter is that Ballmer wants to win, and he has prioritized winning. Fees and high tax bills don’t matter to him, which is why he is willing to do what it takes to keep Leonard, George, and other stars with the Clippers. Ultimately, it seems like this decision could be out of his control, as the belief that George is open to a change of scenery has gained momentum throughout the playoffs.

George, a Palmdale native, may truly leave the comforts of home and the West Coast in order to start fresh late in his career. With free agency less than two months away, the All-Star wing already has several suitors lined up to bid on his services.

Multiple teams to pursue George

There are not many better situations around the league than the one George finds himself in right now with the Clippers. Any move he could potentially make by opting out of his contract and considering a new team would be viewed as a lateral move. This would be especially true if George were to leave Los Angeles for the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference, who just lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks.

The 76ers have long been mentioned as a possible suitor for George, and league sources have confirmed these rumors to ClutchPoints. Once the offseason begins, Philadelphia will have a max contract slot open on their roster due to Tobias Harris’ $39 million contract expiring. With the Sixers looking to do everything they can to maximize Joel Embiid’s prime, George is already being viewed as this organization’s best offseason target. A potential trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and George would certainly increase the 76ers’ title hopes.

Remaining in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Indiana Pacers are three other teams to consider. Either the Knicks or the Pacers will be going to the Eastern Conference Finals this season due to the fact that they are set to play one another in the semifinals. The two-way presence George brings could be an excellent fit alongside first-time All-Star Jalen Brunson, especially if the Knicks look to move on from Julius Randle in the offseason. George and his history with the Pacers also can’t be overlooked, as making his NBA career come full circle with the franchise he spent the first seven years of his career could be appealing.

The Magic have been rumored to be in the market for George this upcoming offseason. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are two rising stars in the Eastern Conference who could flourish under the leadership of an All-NBA talent such as George. Orlando has a handful of youthful players and draft picks that could be combined in a sign-and-trade for George this summer.

While it is unlikely that he would join another Western Conference team, it is worth mentioning the Warriors as well. Owner Joe Lacob is never afraid to do what it takes to put his team in a position to win a championship, and the Warriors need a two-way threat like George next to Stephen Curry with the recent regression of Thompson and Andrew Wiggins.

Overall, the free agent market as a whole is going to be underwhelming. Teams are not going to be spending as much money as they have in the past due to the new financial implications of being a tax-paying team, and many teams are already committed to the salaries on their roster. Movement is inevitable, but in George’s case, there may not be a better situation out there than what he currently has with the Clippers.

That is why his decision to enter free agency and entertain other offers comes down to whether he truly wants to remain next to Leonard. A loss to the Mavericks on Friday will begin the cycle of George being asked about his future, one that could derail the Clippers’ championship pursuit moving forward.