One of many NBA’s family names may quickly be on the transfer.
ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst provided Monday on “Get Up” that the Clippers might commerce star ahead Paul George by “this weekend.”
Windhorst defined that George has a “completely different menu of choices,” together with opting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract with the Clippers to facilitate a commerce — which might necessitate the quickest timeline.
“He might choose into his contract and get traded by this weekend,” Windhorst stated. “That’s one thing that’s going to return to a head within the subsequent day or two if he desires to go along with that possibility, as a result of clearly you’d have to barter a commerce. Then, the crew wouldn’t essentially want wage cap area.
‘We’re going to see some motion in that, in all probability developing in a short time after the draft.”
The Clippers have been making an attempt to increase George earlier than this newest fork within the highway, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that extension conversations between the 2 sides have been “ongoing” after Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year, $153 million extension in mid-January.
George has one 12 months price $48.8 million left on the four-year extension he signed with Los Angeles in December 2020 price as much as $190 million.
Windhorst listed re-signing with the Clippers on a brand new deal as considered one of George’s three choices, together with the opt-in main right into a commerce or opting out of his deal to turn into a free agent.
The ahead was an All-Star each of the final two years after enjoying in solely 31 video games in 2021-22 as a result of a torn UCL in his proper arm.
This previous 12 months, the Fresno State product teamed up with Leonard and James Harden to assist the Clippers declare the West’s No. 4 seed however misplaced within the first spherical to the Mavericks.
Since George arrived in Hollywood in 2019, the Clippers have made the playoffs in 4 of 5 seasons however haven’t superior past the Western Convention finals.
If George opts into his contract to arrange an exit from Los Angeles, insider Marc Stein reported that the Knicks could possibly be a candidate to land the 34-year-old.
Different contenders for the nine-time All-Star, whether or not through commerce or free company, embody the Magic, Rockets and 76ers, though a current report made Philadelphia appear to be an extended shot.
George largely just lately made his debut as a commentator, helping ESPN’s pregame protection of Video games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals.