Will Paul George remain a Clipper? That is going to 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 pursue a new, longer-term deal. At 34 years old, this is likely the last big contract that he will get.
George is still a wildly productive player. He made his ninth All-Star game this season by averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and playing stellar defense. He is the ideal 6-8 wing that every single team is looking for. Despite his immense skill, the Clippers have been reticent to offer him a maximum extension. That has opened the door to George potentially leaving this summer.
If George does opt 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 gettable players with even borderline All-Star potential next year.
While everyone would want a player like George, only a few are actually positioned to be able to make it happen. Here are the teams that have a realistic shot at getting him.
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The Clippers are the odds-on favorite to re-sign George. George is a California native, and he seems happy playing for the team.
The Clippers traded a massive haul to get him, and owner Steve Ballmer hasn’t been shy about handing out big paychecks. They can offer him the most money — up to a four-year extension at $221.1 million, per Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus. They have until June 30 to get that extension done.
The Clippers have been reluctant to offer that deal. They negotiated an extension at slightly less than the maximum for Kawhi Leonard during the season, and they look to be doing the same with George. If those two sides can’t come to an agreement, then there are plenty of teams that will apply pressure to Los Angeles.
It’s no secret that the 76ers have been targeting George. They have the ability to clear over $60 million in cap space and form a dynamic trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They are the only contending team able to pull this off financially without making other complicated trades to finagle their cap. That makes them the likely runner-up if the Clippers do decide to move on from their star player.
The 76ers (or any other team) could offer George a four-year max deal worth $212.2 million, per Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus. His deal would start at $49.4 million, which would still give the team enough cap space to add another quality starter or two in free agency before filling out the rest of the roster with smaller cap exceptions, drafted players and minimum salaries.
Could a Thunder reunion be in the works for George? They’re a great contending team that could use another wing like him in their lineup. They would certainly be one of the best teams in the league if they could land him.
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 clear up more room.
The easiest way to clear a path for George would be to trade Lu Dort. That would be painful — he has been tremendous as a point-of-attack menace and a much-improved 39.4 percent 3-point shooter this season.
George spoke highly of his time in Oklahoma City previously and re-signed with the team back in 2018. A return would be his best shot at winning a ring.
The Magic are rumored to have interest in George, per 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. It could also not guarantee the $17.4 million owed to Jonathan Isaac. That would clear enough space to offer George a max.
George would give the Magic an extra scorer to go along with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner that the team desperately needs. The Magic were the No. 22 offense during the regular season, relying more heavily on their No. 3 defense to win games. They’re an up-and-coming team. A veteran like George could get them home-court advantage in the playoffs next year.
The path to get George on the Knicks is much trickier. They don’t have cap space and would have to negotiate a trade to get him on the roster.
The Clippers are prevented from adding players via sign-and-trade because they are projected to be in the apron. But they can trade George if he opts into his $48.8 million player option rather than signing a completely new deal.
