According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers would have pursued Paul George this summer if the All-Star declined his 2024-25 player option with the Los Angeles Clippers.
George could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season, but he’s expected to sign an in-season contract extension with the Clippers after Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year, $150 million extension last week.
“George’s free agency had the potential to be one of next summer’s most interesting storylines with both Philadelphia and PG-13’s old friends in Indiana believed to be interested in pursuing him,” Stein wrote in his latest NBA column. “The rising expectation across the league now, of course, is that George will do a new Kawhi-esque deal with the Clippers sooner rather than later.”
The Clippers acquired George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer of 2019. George, who is making $45.6 million this season, signed a four-year, $176 million extension with LAC in December 2020.
A future Hall of Famer, George is averaging 23.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 46.3% from the field, 41.8% from beyond the arc and 92.3% from the free-throw line. The eight-time All-Star remains one of the top two-way players in the NBA.
The Clippers haven’t reached the NBA Finals in the George-Leonard era, but they could make the Finals this season. LAC is in fourth place in the Western Conference standings and George, Leonard, James Harden and Russell Westbrook have seemingly figured out how to play together.
The 33-year-old George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Pacers, Thunder and Clippers. He has made six All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams.
