USA Today via Reuters
Nov 14, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul George (13) reacts during in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 14, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul George (13) reacts during in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
With the free agency option still open, Paul George has a big decision to make for himself. PG will either have to sign an extension with the LA Clippers by June 30 or he can also become a free agent, but for that, he will have to decline his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Amid all of this, former NBA star Kenyon Martin has come up with his advice in this context for George.
Martin believes that it’s not just working for Paul George with the Clippers. “… experiment has been going on for six years now with two older guys. It’s not gonna work… Paul and Kawhi has been six years now. What do we have to show for? For whatever reason. Whether it’s injury, whether it’s timing, whether it’s. It just hasn’t worked,” he said, appearing on Gil’s Arena.
“This experiment has been going on for six years now with two older guys [Kawhi Leonard & Paul George] that’s not gone work…If I’m Paul, I’m looking for a different situation.”
Kenyon Martin on Paul George & The Clippers pic.twitter.com/ODL3bJRSV2
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) May 29, 2024
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Notably, PG joined the Clippers in 2019, the same year as Leonard. And so far he has had an impressive stat-line of 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game with the team. But not even once has he even reached the NBA Finals. Leonard already claimed 2 NBA championships with the Spurs and the Raptors, an achievement that is still pending for Young Trece.
So for George to move further in this direction, Martin stated one suggestion for the 34-year-old on Gil’s Arena. K-Mart understands the 9x All-Star is in his home city with the Clippers, but according to him, there are other options for doing that. He believes that to ensure he stays in his home city, PG can look at the LA Lakers as an option. The former Nuggets star anyway believes George can be a better fit with Anthony Davis. But in order to go through with this option, he will have to give up his $48.8 million player option and become a free agent.
What is the Clippers’ standpoint on Paul George?
As per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Clippers “are determined to keep Paul George and James Harden in free agency” ahead of the upcoming move to their own home arena — Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Clippers were hoping Harden, along with PG and Leonard, would further their contention for the championship run. But the Mavericks ousted them from the playoffs in the first round itself.
Clippers also willingly missed the opportunity to offer a four-year, $221 million contract extension to the 9x All-Star. As reported by The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor the franchise “haven’t offered George a dollar more than what they paid [Kawhi] Leonard: three years, $152.4 million.”
Meanwhile, the rumors of Philadelphia 76ers taking interest in Paul George have also emerged recently. So much so that speculations are that the 76ers may even offer up to $212 million over four years to him. In such circumstances, the Clippers will have to increase their offer in order to retain PG.
Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.
