As Paul George prepares to face his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Philadelphia 76ers, he expressed that there are no hard feelings toward the franchise. Reflecting on his time with the Clippers, George emphasized the strong relationship he had with team owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.
He spoke highly of their partnership, noting how refreshing it was to work alongside such a supportive front office. Despite this positive experience, George was surprised that he was not able to stay with the team when contract negotiations broke down, leading to his departure and eventual signing with the 76ers.
George clarified that his relationship with the Clippers’ management was not as negative as the narrative suggested. He felt that they had a strong partnership throughout his tenure, which made the end of his time with the team even more surprising.
His decision to leave was influenced by the way contract discussions unfolded, ultimately leading to his signing with the 76ers for a four-year, $212 million deal in free agency. He revealed that he would have accepted the same three-year, $150 million extension that teammate Kawhi Leonard signed earlier in the year, but negotiations stalled and were eventually paused until after the season.
When talks resumed, George wanted either a no-trade clause or a four-year max contract. However, Clippers’ management, including Frank, was unwilling to meet those demands. Frank cited the team’s goals of maintaining a sustainable championship contender and the restrictions placed by the new collective bargaining agreement on teams in the luxury tax. The Clippers had concerns about giving George a fourth year, especially with his age and the potential impact on their flexibility in the future.
At the time of the negotiations, the Clippers were atop the Western Conference and appeared to be serious title contenders, which made it hard to imagine George leaving. Despite Frank’s desire to see what the trio of Leonard, George, and James Harden could achieve together, the Clippers ultimately chose to go in a different direction. They opted for younger, defensive-minded players, like Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, and Nico Batum, to maintain competitiveness while keeping their options open for future star acquisitions.
Ballmer, while expressing regret over George’s departure, supported the decision to pivot for the sake of the team’s long-term goals. He stated that bringing in tough, hard-playing players would help keep the Clippers competitive while also maintaining the ability to improve.
George understood the business side of the decision, and while he is excited to see old friends and family during his return to Los Angeles, he acknowledged that health was the biggest “what if” during his time with the Clippers. He reflected on how injuries to both him and Leonard had derailed the team’s championship aspirations over the years.
