Paul George and Lauri Markkanen” width=”1500″ height=”1000″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-733041″ srcset=”https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paul-george-lauri-markkanen.jpg 1500w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paul-george-lauri-markkanen-210×140.jpg 210w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paul-george-lauri-markkanen-500×333.jpg 500w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paul-george-lauri-markkanen-768×512.jpg 768w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paul-george-lauri-markkanen-640×427.jpg 640w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paul-george-lauri-markkanen-320×213.jpg 320w” sizes=”(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px”/>We knew that the Warriors had tried everything to recover Paul George this summer, in order to compensate for the departure of Klay Thompson, but The Athletic reveals that the plan of GM, Mike Dunleavy Jr, was even more ambitious.
Because Draymond Green confirms that the Warriors wanted to set up an exchange with the Clippers to get their hands on “PG13”, but that their idea was then also to get their hands on Lauri Markkanen !
“It’s always this possibility that was discussed” assures the strong winger. “By getting these two guys back, we achieved a huge success. But the Clippers didn’t want to play the game. And Danny Ainge did Danny Ainge. »
The Clippers rather on a diet
Determined to save money, Steve Ballmer’s franchise did not wish to recover a large salary as part of an exchange, which derailed the first part of the plan. And as the Jazz leader was, as always, very greedy in discussions around the “Finnisher”, the Warriors ended up letting go of their two prey.
However, Draymond Green assures that Paul George wanted to join San Francisco, to find his former Pacers teammate, Mike Dunleavy Jr, who was his “veteran” when he arrived in the NBA, and with whom he is close.
Recovering only Lauri Markkanen, given the price asked by Danny Ainge, however, did not make sense.
“Mike said to me, ‘It doesn’t make sense to give up the entire future of our team for a group that can be very good, but not incredible, right?’ Especially given the age of our stars” explains Steve Kerr.
And the Warriors therefore kept Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski or Moses Moody, making only a few adjustments (De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson…) around the Curry/Green duo.
