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Paul George has not really shown much in the last three years to suggest he deserves a long term max contract, having dealt with constant injuries and turning 34 in May. However, he does have a few leverage points

1. Has a player option he can accept that would pay him 34.6% of the cap, him picking up this option makes it much harder for the Clips to avoid the second apron if Harden gets 20-25% (or more) of the cap.

2. The Clippers are out of picks and cannot realistically replace Paul George

3. There are not many good FAs in this market so a team like the Pistons could offer a very short term max or the 76ers could offer like 25-30% of the cap.

Obviously his exact offer will depend on how well the Clippers do in the postseason, but it seems difficult for the Clippers to do much in the postseason with George struggling due to battling through knee and groin injuries.

For comparison's sake, Kawhi declined his PO (making 34.6% of the cap) for next year and signed a three year deal that will pay him an estimated 35% of the cap next year, 32.2% of the cap in 2025-2026, and 29.5% of the cap in 2026-2027 (no team or player options I believe).

One team that would be super interesting is if the Thunder offered a two year max...

He'll still get a max from the Clippers whether he deserves it or not. Maybe 3 years guaranteed and a 4th year TO?

HornetJail wrote:He'll still get a max from the Clippers whether he deserves it or not. Maybe 3 years guaranteed and a 4th year TO?

So again, Kawhi is better than George and Kawhi only got 2 years at slightly less than the max.

He almost certainly gets a Kawhi type of deal. He doesn't want to leave and the Clips put all their eggs in this basket. One thing for damn sure is he's not coming to Detroit.

LAC will pay him.

They have the depth/bird rights to survive the penalties of the second apron for a 3 year run as long as they pay their own guys. And they’ve shown no fear of spending. You keep your top 8-9 guys from this years rotation. Try to flip Tucker for someone more useful making less than 11.7. Might not be the easiest task, but it is a low bar… They have Kobe, Bones, and a couple 2nds

Expect 3yr140-145 type without much hesitation.

jayjaysee wrote:LAC will pay him.

They have the depth/bird rights to survive the penalties of the second apron for a 3 year run as long as they pay their own guys. And they’ve shown no fear of spending. You keep your top 8-9 guys from this years rotation. Try to flip Tucker for someone more useful making less than 11.7. Might not be the easiest task, but it is a low bar… They have Kobe, Bones, and a couple 2nds

Expect 3yr140-145 type without much hesitation.

I mean, the issue is that this is the best they're going to be ever (the health for Kawhi, Paul George, and Harden has been incredible relative to prior years and they only have 2030 and 2031 picks to trade) and it's not clear they can even contend this year. I don't know if they want to blow past the second apron for that. If they lose in the first or second round because George can't move, IDK.

Kawhi got like 3/150. I could see them offer him slightly less, as he is a year older. Maybe 3/140M

HadAnEffectHere wrote:

jayjaysee wrote:LAC will pay him.

They have the depth/bird rights to survive the penalties of the second apron for a 3 year run as long as they pay their own guys. And they’ve shown no fear of spending. You keep your top 8-9 guys from this years rotation. Try to flip Tucker for someone more useful making less than 11.7. Might not be the easiest task, but it is a low bar… They have Kobe, Bones, and a couple 2nds

Expect 3yr140-145 type without much hesitation.

I mean, the issue is that this is the best they're going to be ever (the health for Kawhi, Paul George, and Harden has been incredible relative to prior years and they only have 2030 and 2031 picks to trade) and it's not clear they can even contend this year. I don't know if they want to blow past the second apron for that. If they lose in the first or second round because George can't move, IDK.

I think they would rather blow past the second apron with the depth they have and keep a competitive team around Leonard the next 3 seasons versus the other option of being below the tax?

DaddyCool19 wrote:Kawhi got like 3/150. I could see them offer him slightly less, as he is a year older. Maybe 3/140M

George is also just a lot worse...

Kawhi has always been dominant when playing, George's last three years haven't been incredible.

If the Clippers don't pay him, the Sixers will. Morey's Plan A is to max PG 4 full guaranteed years. Regardless of whether he's deserving or not.

He's going nowhere, probably gets the same deal as Kawhi. Balmer can't afford *not* to overpay him as there's no way to replace him unless BJ somehow goes from sentimental homegrown project to an efficient 20+ ppg scorer.

Leonard has been a “top 5” type player when he plays for years. Most max players are worse than him. And a lot of them are a lot worse than current Paul George..

Yeah Clips pay him enough to keep him. He wants to be there.

Obviously he’d be great for OKC and it would be a coup to poach him.

HadAnEffectHere wrote:

DaddyCool19 wrote:Kawhi got like 3/150. I could see them offer him slightly less, as he is a year older. Maybe 3/140M

George is also just a lot worse...

Kawhi has always been dominant when playing, George's last three years haven't been incredible.

It doesnt matter how good he is in relation to Kawhi. The only thing that matters is the market for him, and there absolutely will be a big one. He's the best FA available and there's a lot of money out there. Clippers might get a slight hometown discount if he really wants to stay in LA, but make no mistake, there will be multiple max offers available to him if he wants to shop around

HadAnEffectHere wrote:Paul George has not really shown much in the last three years to suggest he deserves a long term max contract, having dealt with constant injuries and turning 34 in May. However, he does have a few leverage points

1. Has a player option he can accept that would pay him 34.6% of the cap, him picking up this option makes it much harder for the Clips to avoid the second apron if Harden gets 20-25% (or more) of the cap.

2. The Clippers are out of picks and cannot realistically replace Paul George

3. There are not many good FAs in this market so a team like the Pistons could offer a very short term max or the 76ers could offer like 25-30% of the cap.

Obviously his exact offer will depend on how well the Clippers do in the postseason, but it seems difficult for the Clippers to do much in the postseason with George struggling due to battling through knee and groin injuries.

For comparison's sake, Kawhi declined his PO (making 34.6% of the cap) for next year and signed a three year deal that will pay him an estimated 35% of the cap next year, 32.2% of the cap in 2025-2026, and 29.5% of the cap in 2026-2027 (no team or player options I believe).

I heard that he wants to sign with the Pacers because he misses Indiana so much! Who'da thunk it!??