Paul George Elects Free Agency After Declining Player Option With Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers offseason has officially gotten interesting with star forward Paul George deciding to decline his player option for next year, electing to become an unrestricted free agent. Los Angeles has held negotiations with George for some time but the two sides haven’t been able to come to terms that both agree are fair. George wants a max contract after a successful 2023-24 season but the Clippers have been hesitant to make it happen. This is in part due to the new CBA rules but it seems that George could be heading elsewhere this summer.

George will have options this offseason, with teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic expected to make runs at him. Both teams have the cap space available to outright sign him but George has wanted to stay on the West Coast. If the Clippers aren’t going to offer him a deal that he deems fair, the two sides may elect to work on a sign-and-trade deal to an over-the-cap squad. This would allow George to pick where he wants to go while the Clippers would gain a few assets back instead of losing the star forward for nothing.

Last season, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game for Los Angeles over 74 games. He also shot 41.3 percent from beyond the three-point line last season, the highest mark of his career. George showed that he could still be a very effective player and with this being his last massive payday in the league, he wants to cash in. However, the Clippers also have contract negotiations to work out with guard James Harden as well. While the two players are separate, Harden has also been looking for a large deal to remain in Los Angeles.

Read more: Conflicting Reports Paint Confusing Picture About 76ers’ Interest in 9-Time All-Star

George seems to potentially be the odd man out with the Clippers and his time with the team has been overwhelming if that is the case. He came to Los Angeles following the 2018-19 season, along with star Kawhi Leonard. The two were supposed to bring glory to the franchise but instead, injuries took control of their fate. Los Angeles reached the Western Conference Finals one time during the five years George has been with the team.

Read more: 5Ideal Non-Clippers Destinations for All-Star Paul George

It remains to be seen what will happen with George but this is the first step for him to do anything. He seems hard-pressed to receive a max deal, even if it means he will leave the Clippers. If George were to leave, the Clippers would have a tough time replacing his production. But with the new CBA rules, having more than two-star players on large contracts is detrimental to the overall ability to build a strong, competitive team.