Paul George appears to be next on deck for the LA Clippers to hammer out a new deal with.
The major news broke on Wednesday that the Clippers have agreed to a big new contract extension with star forward Kawhi Leonard, who otherwise could have tested free agency in the summer. The extension now keeps Leonard tied to the Clippers through the 2026-27 season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Wednesday on George’s status amid the big Leonard news. George can still become a free agent himself this offseason with a $48.8 million player option for 2024-25.
Wojnarowski says that extension talks are ongoing between George and the Clippers as well. The Clippers organization reportedly wants to get both of their stars lined up on new longer-term contracts.
That stance makes perfect sense for the Clippers, especially if George, 33, lands something like the three-year extension for slightly below the max that Leonard just got. The Clippers are moving to a brand-new home (the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.) next season. Having both Leonard and George stick around would sell seats and also give the team a real stability that might convince James Harden to sign a new contract as well (Harden cannot officially do so until the summer though).
The eight-time NBA All-Star George is putting forth his usual production this season with 23.2 points per game on 40.9 percent three-point shooting. While he has had a number of unlucky injuries in the past, George generally has had an easier time staying healthy than Leonard. A Southern California native, George has hinted before at a longer-term future with the Clippers. The Leonard extension should create a solid foundation for that to happen.
