PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The LA Clippers “very a lot” wish to hold All-Star guard Paul George however must see how issues play out as he approaches Saturday’s deadline to train his $48.8 million participant possibility.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank stated the crew has had ongoing conversations with George and his agent, Aaron Mintz.
The Clippers can signal George to an extension as much as 4 years and $221 million, however the two sides haven’t been in a position to come to an settlement for months.
If no extension is reached earlier than Saturday’s deadline, George can turn out to be a free agent or decide into his deal. Even when George opts into the ultimate 12 months of his deal, he might attempt to work a commerce out with the Clippers to a different crew.
However the Clippers, who signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $150-million extension in January, are hopeful George will wish to stay residence and near his household; he grew up in close by Palmdale.
“We love Paul,” Frank stated after the Clippers chosen Minnesota guard Cam Christie with the forty sixth choose within the second spherical. “We very a lot wish to retain Paul, however we additionally very a lot perceive and respect the very fact it is a enterprise.
“We hope Paul’s choice is to be right here. He is been superior. He is been an All-Star. He is among the finest two-way gamers within the league. He is a terrific particular person. He is obtained nice household, so we hope he is right here but in addition respect the truth that if he chooses to decide out, that is his selection. He is earned it and we’ll see how issues play out.”
Frank stated the crew has had productive talks with James Harden, who’s a free agent, and his brokers, Mike Silverman and Troy Payne.
“We expect James has been terrific for us,” Frank stated. “We hope he is had an excellent expertise whereas he has been right here and we hope he decides to proceed to be right here. … We very a lot need James to stay a Clipper and hope he decides to do the identical.”
Contemplating how restrictive the brand new collective bargaining settlement can be for tax-paying groups such because the Clippers, Frank acknowledged the group has to make powerful choices in attempting to maintain its stars on the identical timeline.
“It is a enterprise and the fact of the brand new CBA impacts groups like us,” Frank stated. “When your higher gamers are of their 30s and also you’re attempting to construct a sustainable roster, it impacts it. Like if there was no CBA, with [owner] Steve Ballmer, it might be carte blanche. With the brand new CBA, it is not even concerning the cash as it’s how are you going to construct a sustainable roster, preserve your instruments to have transactional flexibility? And with that comes actually, actually arduous choices.”