The NBA has entered a long offseason, and the Celtics' championship in the 23-24 season has touched the nerves of many teams, such as the Knicks, who renewed Anunoby for 212.5 million in 5 years, got Bridges for 8 for 2, and built a super luxury battleship to call the Celtics; Including 76 people, with more than $65 million in salary space, ready to go on a buying spree. In contrast, the overall competition in the West is more intense, but with the rise of young teams such as the Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Thunder, some of the former giants are gradually less competitive, and the Lakers can meet all the requirements of James, but it is difficult to compete for the championship; The Warriors are also going to break up and reorganize, and as for the Clippers, it's really hard to say.
Starting from a piece of news, after half a year of tugging, Paul George finally decided: refuse to exercise the player option worth $48.79 million and enter the free market! With few forward options available this summer, George is indeed a favorite, including the Warriors, 76ers and even the Magic. But here's the interesting thing, the Warriors can't eat George directly, and can only hope to sign first and then trade, in the words of team reporter Carvahamy, the Warriors are willing to give George a 4-year contract with a maximum salary, but some of the plans they gave (such as using Wiggins + Paul + Kuminga or one of Moody + a future first-round pick) were rejected by the Clippers. Of course, George's attitude is also very clear, he wants to go to the Warriors, but as long as the Clippers refuse to sign first and then trade, George can't go! Are the Clippers really hurting others and themselves?
Whether the Warriors are really willing to take out these chips is another matter, but there is one detail that is easy to overlook, that is, in the tug-of-war between George and the Clippers, in the words of the Clippers reporter, the owner Ballmer does not lack George's top salary at all, but the team thinks he is not worth it! $149 million for 3 years is the upper limit for the Clippers to accept George's stay (sign), and if you don't think it's okay, then please leave free. Including George's age, as well as the downshift attribute in the playoffs, is actually taken into account. George's departure is a foregone conclusion, and Willis, who has exercised his $4 million player option, is likely to leave for the new season, and in the words of 76ers reporter Pompey, once George joins Philadelphia, he will help the team recruit some key role players. The most embarrassing thing is that the Clippers still owe the chips that George gave to the Thunder in the first place!
At the beginning, in order to meet the small card, the Clippers got George, and sent the 21-year Heat unprotected first round + 22-year Clippers unprotected first round + 23-year Heat top 14 picks to protect the first round + 23-year first-round swap + 24-year Clippers first-round pick + 25-year first-round swap right + 26-year Clippers first-round pick + Gallinari + Alexander. Not to mention the various role players who directly helped the Thunder achieve rebuilding success, Alexander alone has grown into the second MVP in the league and ranks among the supergiants. The George people are gone, and the Clippers have to pay off their debts! The key is that the salary space has been compressed, and there is no room for follow-up reinforcement. In the past five seasons, the Clippers have reached 1 Western Conference finals, of course, this can't be blamed entirely on George, the main responsibility is Leonard, who has injuries every playoff.
In ESPN's words, Leonard's choice to renew his contract with the Clippers with a three-year, $152 million salary cut and a reduction in the number of years can make up for the Clippers' lack of success in the past five years? Clippers president Frank made it clear that Leonard wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his long-term health and that he wanted a long career. But the most puzzling thing is that Leonard is ready for the Paris Olympics this summer, and in the words of coach Cole, Leonard will appear on the training ground to prepare for the warm-up games and the Olympics later. Of course, Leonard's attitude of accepting a pay cut is good, but forcing the stubborn George away is certainly unexpected. And the future of Harden and the Clippers, in the words of Clippers reporter Azali, Harden can theoretically go to any team, but regardless of George, Harden is expected to stay with the Clippers.
Harden's salary and contract ceiling are up to $100 million for 3 years, and only the Clippers can give this price, even if the Lakers are interested, even if James is willing to cut his salary by $16 million in order to let the Lakers have a full middle-class exception, the salary of more than 12 million cannot satisfy Harden. George leaves, Wei Shao is likely to leave, Harden and Leonard stay, plus Zubac, Powell, Tucker, Mann, Hyland, even if the Clippers management racks their brains to seek reinforcements in the offseason, the upper limit of the team's salary is limited, and Leonard is getting older, his physical condition will definitely not be able to support a long season, and the playoffs cannot be expected; Harden has the ability to guarantee the regular season, but the playoffs can't expect Harden to change his life, so what's the point of the Clippers next season? It's nothing more than a first-round level.
The so-called championship giants, the Clippers should have been rebuilt a long time ago! Leonard, who is healthy, is indeed unparalleled in the world and is unbeatable in the playoffs, but after coming to the Clippers, has he been healthy in the playoffs? Harden does his best every year, but the objective fact of age + state determines his future options, which are getting narrower and narrower, and he and the Clippers can only continue to work together. The most helpless thing is the handling of George's contract, Xiaoka is easy to speak, George is not easy to speak, and would rather die and break the net, but in the end, George still has a 76er option, what about the Clippers? Nothing is gone.