The Golden State Warriors reportedly proposed several trade variations to the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul George before he decided to opt out of his contract and enter unrestricted free agency.
According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, the offers included a mix of Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and a future first-round pick. While the Warriors were not willing to include all these assets in a single deal, they believed they presented multiple trade options that the Clippers could accept.
Golden State was also prepared to offer Paul George a new max contract extension, but any potential trade required Paul George to opt into the final year of his current contract. Instead, George chose to opt out and explore the free-agent market.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that Paul George plans to meet with the Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic at the start of free agency. Both the Sixers and Magic have the necessary cap space to sign George outright.
The Clippers and Paul George have been negotiating an extension for months without reaching an agreement. George has been firm in his demand for a four-year maximum contract, while the Clippers have proposed a deal similar to the three-year, $149.7 million extension signed by Kawhi Leonard in January. This standoff has left the Clippers on the brink of potentially losing Paul George for nothing if they do not meet his demands before free agency begins.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank expressed the team’s desire to retain George but acknowledged the financial challenges posed by the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
“This is a business, and the reality of the new CBA impacts teams like us,” Frank said. “When your better players are in their 30s and you’re trying to build a sustainable roster, it impacts it.
“With Steve Ballmer as our owner, we would have carte blanche without the CBA constraints. The new CBA isn’t just about money; it’s about how you build a sustainable roster and maintain transactional flexibility. This requires making tough decisions.”
Currently, the Clippers are about $54.1 million under the first tax apron and $65 million under the second apron. Re-signing George would bring them close to the first apron, not including the potential return of James Harden. Retaining both Harden and George would push the Clippers well past the second apron, significantly limiting their roster flexibility moving forward.
The CBA has also placed the Warriors in a difficult financial position, likely leading to Klay Thompson leaving in free agency this summer. Golden State has been the NBA’s most expensive team in recent years, but owner Joe Lacob has expressed a desire to avoid the luxury tax.
Missing out on George puts the Warriors at a crucial decision point. They could avoid the luxury tax by waiving Chris Paul’s $30 million contract, but doing so would likely leave the team struggling and potentially landing in the lottery for the foreseeable future.
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