Paul George to Depart Following Contract Talks Standstill
Los Angeles Clippers' All-Star forward Paul George will part ways with the team after five seasons, the organization confirmed on Sunday.
The 34-year-old sought a four-year contract but reportedly could not secure an offer longer than three seasons from the Clippers, as per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Philadelphia 76ers are currently leading contenders to acquire George, Wojnarowski noted, with the Orlando Magic also expressing interest.
"We engaged in lengthy negotiations with Paul and his representation on a contract that would be mutually beneficial, but unfortunately, we were unable to bridge the gap," the Clippers stated in an official release. "The disparity in our positions was significant. We respect Paul's decision to explore other opportunities for his next contract. While we considered an opt-in-and-trade scenario, it would have presented similar challenges under the new CBA, with limited asset value."
"We will miss Paul's contributions. However, we are optimistic about the opportunities ahead, including increased flexibility under the new CBA. With Kawhi Leonard's elite talent and Tyronn Lue's coaching prowess, we remain committed to fielding a highly competitive team this season and leveraging our organizational strengths to attract top-tier talent to Intuit Dome."
George arrived in Los Angeles alongside Leonard in a blockbuster trade in 2019. Leonard, fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to an NBA championship, joined the Clippers, while George engineered his move from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite their arrival generating considerable excitement, the Clippers never advanced to the NBA Finals during their tenure together, reaching the Western Conference finals only once.
Last season, George averaged 22.6 points on 47.1% shooting, along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. A three-time All-Star during his Clippers tenure, George previously earned six All-Star nods across stints with the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
