Paul George is leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, his now-former group introduced Sunday evening, with all indicators pointing to the nine-time All-Star maybe returning to the Japanese Convention and becoming a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
George might command greater than $200 million over 4 years if his subsequent contract is for max worth.
“Paul has knowledgeable us that he’s signing his subsequent contract with one other group,” the Clippers mentioned in a launch Sunday evening.
The group added, “We negotiated for months with Paul and his consultant on a contract that may make sense for either side, and we have been left far aside. The hole was important. We perceive and respect Paul’s resolution to look elsewhere for his subsequent contract.”
George had a $48.8 million possibility for this coming season however didn’t train it, getting into free company — which opened Sunday evening — as a substitute. It was believed there was an opportunity that George and the Clippers might have nonetheless gotten one thing accomplished, however the group made clear that these hopes are gone.
“We’ll miss Paul,” the Clippers mentioned.
At 34, George remains to be elite — averaging 22.6 factors this previous season, the ninth consecutive season by which he has averaged at the very least 20 factors per recreation.
In the meantime, James Harden is staying with the Clippers on a two-year contract that features a participant possibility, an individual with information of that call informed The Related Press earlier Sunday.
Harden’s deal — which could possibly be value as much as $70 million if he opts into 2025-26 — was agreed upon in precept earlier than free company technically began, mentioned the one that spoke to AP on situation of anonymity as a result of neither Harden nor the Clippers had introduced the settlement.
Harden, a 10-time NBA All-Star, averaged 16.6 factors and eight.5 assists final season for the Clippers, who will transfer into their new Intuit Dome house when this coming season begins.
Elsewhere, veteran guard Chris Paul goes to group up with rookie of the 12 months Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio on a one-year deal, an individual with information of that settlement mentioned.
Paul was waived earlier Sunday by the Golden State Warriors, who would have needed to pay him $30 million for the approaching season in any other case. ESPN reported the Spurs can pay Paul round $11 million. The 39-year-old Paul averaged 9.2 factors and 6.8 assists in 58 video games with the Warriors final season.
And Kentavious Caldwell-Pope goes to convey his championship expertise to the Orlando Magic, a group that made an enormous bounce this previous season and now’s making an attempt to change into an excellent stronger contender within the East.
Caldwell-Pope — a two-time champion guard — was finalizing a three-year, $66 million take care of the Magic, an individual with information of the choice mentioned. The particular person spoke on situation of anonymity to AP as a result of the deal can’t be finalized till the league’s offseason moratorium is lifted on July 6.
It’s an enormous get for the rising Magic, who gained 47 video games — their most in 13 years — and bought again to the playoffs this previous season. Caldwell-Pope was a part of title-winning groups with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and the Denver Nuggets in 2023. He averaged 10.1 factors for the Nuggets this previous season whereas taking pictures almost 41% from 3-point vary.
In different strikes Sunday:
— Kevin Love was finishing a brand new two-year contract with the Miami Warmth value about $8 million, an individual with information of that deal informed AP, the transfer coming at some point after he didn’t choose into what would have been a $4 million contract for this coming season with the membership. Love had mentioned repeatedly final season that he has no intentions of leaving Miami.
— Andre Drummond agreed to a two-year contract value about $10 million (the second 12 months as an possibility) to hitch the Philadelphia 76ers, a group that he appeared in 49 video games for throughout the 2021-22 season. Drummond spent the final two seasons in Chicago — he averaged 8.4 factors and 9.0 rebounds this previous season in solely 17 minutes per recreation — and could be beneficial insurance coverage alongside Joel Embiid within the 76ers’ big-man rotation. “I’m within the temper for a Philly cheesesteak,” Drummond posted on social media.
— Obi Toppin is being rewarded properly for his sturdy first season with Indiana. An individual with information of the settlement mentioned he and the Pacers have been finalizing a four-year deal value almost $60 million. Toppin averaged a career-best 10.3 factors final season, his first with Indiana after three years in New York.
— Promising wing Max Christie is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers with a four-year, $32 million contract, an individual with information of the deal informed AP. The 21-year-old Christie averaged 3.8 factors, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists throughout his first two NBA seasons.
— The NBA set the wage cap at at $140.588 million for the 2024-25 season, down barely — about $400,000 or so — from what groups had been informed to count on. The tax degree was set at $170.814 million, the primary apron degree shall be $178.132 million, the second apron degree shall be $188.931 million, the non-taxpayer mid-level is $12.822 million, the taxpayer mid-level is $5.168 million, and the room mid-level is $7.983 million.
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AP Sports activities Writers Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed.
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