Paul George currently has a player option for the next season with the OKC Thunder. Should he not accept it, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Here is why the Los Angeles Clippers should not pay any attention to the possible free agent in the offseason.
Paul George just finished his first season with OKC averaging nearly 22 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3 assists. He was the much-needed scoring option to help Russell Westbrook carry the team. The Thunder were recently eliminated by the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs and George’s stat line was not pretty. He scored 5 points on 2/16 shooting in more than 45 minutes on the court. George did have 8 assists, but his 5-point performance was unacceptable for someone who is supposed to be the second scoring option.
After this game fans and analysts were left wondering, “Does Paul George want to be in OKC?” The 5 points scored by PG13 could be his last in a Thunder uniform. There have been rumors of George signing with an LA team. He grew up loving and supporting the LA Clippers, but here is why the team shouldn’t look his way come signing time.
Tobias Harris
Enough said, right? Harris joined the Clippers as part of the Blake Griffin-Pistons trade and ended the season averaging 19 points on 47.3% shooting. Harris is already under contract to play with the Clippers next season, so replacing him with Paul George in the starting lineup would not be a smart move. While George is the bigger star, Harris can do whatever George could for this team.
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The Price won’t be right
Declining a $20.7 million option would mean George is looking for a bigger payout. This team has built a great roster without dishing out huge contracts like they have in the past, they may as well keep the streak by ignoring George in free agency. By not spending the money on 28-year-old SF Paul George, the Clippers can invest in 25-year-old SF Tobias Harris when his contract is due next summer. Simple enough right?
There’s bigger issues at hand
By ignoring Paul George in the offseason, the Clippers’ front office can focus on managing the current players’ contracts. DeAndre Jordan, Avery Bradley, Montrezl Harrell, Austin Rivers, and Milos Teodosic’s future whereabouts are unknown due to them either having player options or becoming unrestricted free agents. Current players’ futures should come before other teams’ stars.
We would love to have a star such as Paul George in LA, but there are plenty of legitimate reasons to not pursue him in the offseason, and those reasons should be respected.