Paul George continues to seek a fourth season in his contract offer from the Los Angeles Clippers as free agency is set to open with him having the opportunity to meet with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. George is also wondering how about his chances of winning a title if he re-signs with the Clippers as opposed to the path the Sixers have in the Eastern Conference.
“Paul George has had a year to negotiate a deal with the Clippers that he wants to take,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “And they’ve gone back and forth, certainly in the last several months. Kawhi Leonard got his extension done: three years, less than the max during the season.
“Paul George wasn’t ready to do that and now we are into unrestricted free agency. He wants that fourth year on his contract. The Clippers have not offered it. And certainly he’s looking at that Clipper roster and asking himself too, ‘Are we a championship contender?’
“All those factors… I think being in Southern California. Being part of the Clippers as they go into new the Intuit Dome. I think those are things that are still very appealing to him.
“But Philadelphia out in the marketplace. Orlando, to an extent, out in the marketplace for him. [The Magic] can offer him that fourth year. And Philadelphia… is there a clear path in the Eastern Conference to try to win? Although you still have to be able to go through Boston, Philly sees Paul George as a player that can help them get through the Celtics.”
During a Sports Center appearance early on Sunday morning, Wojnarowski said the Sixers are “a significant threat to lure him away.”
The willingness of the Sixers and Magic to offer a fourth season to George is very appealing to him. The Clippers may be entirely unwilling to move off their position of only three seasons.
“What they have not wanted to do is do a fourth year on a Paul George deal,” said Wojnarowski. “I think if they had, he might have already committed back there. Certainly, right now, in Philadelphia, in Orlando, their willingness to go to a fourth year makes those very attractive destinations for him. If the Clippers were going to offer that fourth year, they probably would have already. But for Paul George to walk away from L.A., that’s home, his family’s there. He went back to the Clippers because he wanted to be there. Not easy. He’s going to meet with the Clippers, Magic, Sixers late Sunday night and into Monday.”
The Sixers and Magic can offer George a four-year, $212 million maximum contract. George is seeking a four-year, $221 million contract from the Clippers, but the most they can offer on a three-year deal is approximately $160 million.
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June 30, 2024 | 8:30 am
