Report: Warriors could be ready to give PG13 max contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
If Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers decide to part ways this season, an NBA insider revealed a suitor who makes sense for the nine-time NBA All-Star.
It all comes down to George’s contract, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Wednesday morning on “Get Up,” stating that Los Angeles was only willing to offer George a three-year contract extension at slightly less than the max contract, which is a year. shortly before the four-year deal George is looking for.
But Windhorst claims some teams are willing to give him the most he wants, including the Warriors.
“He wants to get the most out of himself. And there are a number of teams, I’m told, that are willing to give that to him, or willing to trade for him,” Windhorst said. “One of those teams may be on the coast in Golden State. Golden State is chasing big fish. Remember, they made a call on LeBron James at the last trade deadline. They are shopping around for big deals.
“If Paul George is willing to leave, they would like to be an option for him.”
Windhorst’s report is consistent with several others, including that of NBA insider Marc Stein, who wrote in his latest substack that the Warriors could keep an eye on George on the open market now that Klay Thompson’s future is uncertain.
“I’m pretty sure the Warriors are just as interested [Paul] George as the [New York] Knicks – maybe more,” Stein wrote.
Stein added that there is “a growing feeling” around the league that it is becoming increasingly realistic that George will pick up his $48.8 million player option for next season to force the Clippers to trade him after months of “fruitlessness” contract extension negotiations.
George has until Saturday, one day before free agency begins, to decide whether or not to exercise his player option for the upcoming season.
The Warriors are aggressively exploring trade options, Stein reported, with veteran point guard Chris Paul central to those efforts. Golden State has until Friday to exercise or decline Paul’s $30 million team option for next season.
As George’s name continues to circulate through the rumor mill, Windhorst finds it hard to believe that he would want to leave the town where he grew up.
“Any of these places that Paul would have to go via trade would have to be worked out with the Clippers,” Windhorst said. “The Clippers are in a position where they want to call Paul’s bluff that he actually wants to leave his hometown of LA.
“So that’s one of the most interesting things to watch in terms of staredowns between now and this weekend.”
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