On June 30, Beijing time, ESPN's Woshen reported that Paul George refused to exercise the 48.7 million player option, and he decided to become a full free agent and wade into the free market. The 34-year-old George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three-point range and 90.7 percent from the free-throw line.
According to Woshen's tracking report, George will meet with Magic, Philadelphia, and Clippers after becoming a complete free agent, Magic and Philadelphia have maximum salary space, which can provide George with a four-year 221 million maximum salary contract, and the Clippers have George's bird rights, but the Clippers were only willing to give George a three-year 149 million contract extension, and they did not want to give George a four-year long-term contract, which is also the key to the failure of the two sides to reach an agreement.
Leonard got 152 million for three years at the age of 33, and George could only get 149 million for three years at the age of 34, but Leonard's attendance was much less than George's, and George was certainly not satisfied. This sparked discussion in the US media.
If the Clippers fail to keep George, then the Clippers trade to get George will be the biggest losing deal in NBA history -
1. The 2021 Heat's unprotected first-round pick;
2. The Clippers' unprotected first-round pick in 2022;
3. The top 14 picks of the Heat in 2023 are protected;
4. The first round of swaps in 2023;
5. The Clippers' unprotected first-round pick in 2024;
6. The first round of swaps in 2025;
7. The Clippers' unprotected first-round pick in 2026;
8, Gallinari;
9. Alexander; (Now Alexander has become an MVP candidate and a top superstar in the league, and he is much better than George)
The Thunder also used the Clippers' multiple first-round picks to complete the rebuild, the Clippers only played in the Western Conference finals once after getting George in the trade, Ballmer has not been able to win the championship for many years of huge investment, according to the Clippers team reporter Law Murray, the reason why the Clippers did not give George a four-year salary cap is definitely not money, because Ballmer is the richest owner in the NBA, and he has invested a lot in the team in recent years.
Text/Yan Xiaobai's basketball dream