From a championship perspective, the Clippers have massively disappointed since acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. It was widely believed the two would deliver a title, and George said early on during his tenure in Los Angeles that he owed them a trophy.
Another season has come and gone, and the franchise is still searching for its first NBA championship.
George has a player option to remain with the team for the 2024-25 season, but he can also opt out and become a free agent. The star forward and the Clippers are reportedly “not on the same page.”
Fans were rightfully frustrated following their first-round playoff exit when they lost to the eventual Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks. Injuries were once again the primary reason for their downfall, and heading into next season, the Clippers will start to look like an aging team if they run it back.
What once looked like a roster that could possibly deliver multiple titles now looks like it may have run its course.
“At this point, it’s not even about, you know, people say chasing a championship, it’s not that. But it’s playing the right style of basketball, is what I’m chasing,” said George on the most recent episode of his podcast.
George rubs people the wrong way from time to time, but his skills on a basketball court are undeniable. At 34 years old, he is still one of the top two-way players in the NBA. There are not many players in the league that teams would take as their number two option ahead of him.
If the Clippers decide to let him walk, not offering him the max 4-year $212 million contract he is eligible for, someone else will. Playoff contenders with available cap space will undoubtedly line up for a chance to obtain his services. It would be a bad look for the organization if he walks this summer and goes on to be the missing piece for a team like the 76ers.
LA might not want to pay 38-year-old Paul George $53 million dollars in 2028, but if it is the price they have to pay in order to keep him around next season, it is a trade they should be willing to make.
Historically, the Clippers have strived for relevancy, and they have gone above and beyond relevant during this era. The Clippers are moving to a new arena next year, and they do not want to regress back to their old ways while trying to establish their new foundation at the Intuit Dome. Without George, there would be little buzz around the team, and they would fall out of contention.
Two months ago, the Clippers took a 1-0 series lead against Dallas without Kawhi Leonard. Had Leonard been healthy during the playoffs, there is a strong case that it could have been the Clippers playing the Celtics in the NBA Finals instead. That is a big if, but if they break the team up now, all hope will be lost.
Top Image Caption: © Steven Baffo/News4usonline – Before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul George averaged 28 points and 8.2 rebounds a game for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.”