Paul George and the LA Clippers are going their separate ways. While the ageing superstar is probably trying to fulfill his dream of a championship in Philadelphia, the Clippers are having to admit to old mistakes.
Paul George wants to compete for the title in the coming seasons – but no longer for the Los Angeles Clippers. As the LA franchise announced, talks about an extension of his expiring contract have failed miserably.
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In addition, according to consistent media reports, the 34-year-old even seems to have reached an agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he is set to sign a substantial four-year, $212 million contract.
George’s departure from LA is fixed
“Paul has informed us that he will sign his next contract with another NBA team,” the franchise said in a statement. The decisive factor was a difference in ideas regarding his salary, as the Clippers explained: “We spent months negotiating with Paul and his representatives to reach a contract that made sense for both sides, and we were far apart. The differences were significant.”
The franchise was never able to fulfill its high ambitions, which came with the signing of George and Kawhi Leonard.
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After promising playoff runs in 2020 (Conference Semi-Finals) and 2021 (Conference Finals), the Clippers missed the playoffs entirely in 2022, and in the next two years they had to leave for the summer holidays after the first round. Injuries to the star ensemble, especially Leonard, repeatedly thwarted the Clippers’ plans.
Paul George leaves the LA Clippers
Clippers gave up their future for George – and now have to rebuild
Now the project seems to have finally failed. George says goodbye after five disappointing seasons – and leaves behind disappointed fans. Because from today’s perspective, it can be said without a doubt that the Clippers are the clear losers of the blockbuster trade that brought George from Oklahoma to California in 2019.
Back then, the Clippers sent OKC an incredible package of five first-round picks, two pick swaps, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in return for George. From today’s perspective, it was a very one-sided deal, especially since SGA developed into an MVP candidate in Oklahoma City.
“This will go down as the worst trade in NBA history,” wrote one user on X.
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“We sacrificed a lot to bring Paul and Kawhi together, and in return we had the opportunity to compete for a championship for five years,” the franchise said in a statement. “Even though we did not achieve our ultimate goal, we appreciate the opportunities we had with Paul.”
While OKC is one of the favorites in the West in the coming years with one of the youngest and most promising squads in the NBA, the Clippers are on the decline and need to completely restructure their squad.
In return, an agreement has apparently been reached with ten-time All-Star James Harden on a two-year extension ($70 million), and Derrick Jones Jr. is also expected to come from Dallas (three years, $30 million). The focus in the coming years will also be on injury-prone Leonard, who extended his expiring contract by three years just this year.
Are the 76ers ready for the championship with George?
In Philadelphia, George will face Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who agreed to a five-year contract with a total salary of $204 million on Monday, as well as numerous promising role players. Given the roster, the move to the east coast is definitely a logical step.
But the 76ers have also failed earlier than expected in recent years. The merger with George is set to change that.
It certainly seems possible, especially because the 34-year-old is still performing at the highest level despite his advanced age. Last season, the nine-time All-Star averaged 22.6 points (41% three-point percentage), making it the ninth time in a row that he has scored at least 20 points per game.
2024-07-02 15:40:57
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