NBA Rumors: Paul George, Clippers Discuss New Contract After Kawhi Leonard Extension

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 10, 2024

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The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly in the midst of contract extension negotiations with veteran wing Paul George.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers want to get both George and Kawhi Leonard locked into longer-term contracts amid a successful season that has L.A. in fourth place in the Western Conference at 23-13.

Before Wojnarowski’s report, the Clippers announced that they signed Leonard to an extension, although they did not reveal the terms of the deal.

Currently, George is only signed through the remainder of this season with a player option for 2024-25. Leonard was in the same position prior to his extension.

The Clippers acquired George in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, and he signed a four-year, $176 million contract extension with the Clips the following year.

Shortly before the trade for George, the Clippers signed Leonard in free agency, and they aimed to build a perennial championship contender with George and Leonard leading the way.

Due mostly to George and Leonard struggling with injuries, that hasn’t been the case, although the Clippers are trending toward their fourth playoff appearance in five seasons since landing PG-13 and Kawhi.

The 33-year-old George is an eight-time All-Star who has long been considered one of the best two-way players in the league dating back to his stints with the Indiana Pacers and Thunder.

Injuries have limited George to 56 or fewer games in each of his seasons with the Clippers, but so far this season, he has played in 34 of L.A.’s 36 contests, while Leonard has played in 32 games.

George is putting up typically strong numbers this season with averages of 23.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.4 three-pointers made and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc.

As the team’s No. 2 scorer, George is a huge reason why the Clippers have won 15 of their past 18 games and bounced back from a 3-7 start to the season.

Along with George and Leonard, one-time NBA MVP James Harden has been a key player for the Clippers, averaging 17.4 points and a team-high 8.4 assists per game since coming over in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers early in the season.

A healthy Clippers team seemingly has the ability to beat any team in the NBA, so if George, Leonard, Harden and other important supporting cast members such as Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac and Russell Westbrook are healthy come playoff time, Los Angeles will be a force to be reckoned with.

Also, if the Clippers are able to finalize an extension with George, they have a chance to be championship contenders for years to come.