Since being traded to the LA Clippers in 2019, Paul George has established himself as one of the most valuable players in franchise history. On the court, he has led his team to a place they have never been while also representing the LA mentality off the court.
Moreover, trade rumors quickly rose once the LA Clippers lost in the first round. This is understandable, considering injuries have been an issue almost every season. However, reports slowly released that the front office was making calls on George’s trade value.
Clippers are gauging Paul George's trade value and are "giving real consideration to the idea of disassembling the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George tandem," per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/UJk4t3VeJY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2023
The New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers were two of the teams that were likely mentioned. For New York, LA showed interest in players like Obi Toppin, Quintin Grimes, and RJ Barrett. If the front office could land at least two of these players along with picks, it would be seen as a bargain.
Conversely, for Portland, the Clippers were primarily looking at their number three overall picks and salary fillers, such as Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic. This would have also been seen as a good move for LA as they would have found their franchise player in Scoot Henderson.
Weeks later, it is evident that if the LA Clippers received the right offer, they would tap accept in a heartbeat. This would lead to a franchise rebuild, ultimately forcing LA to trade Kawhi Leonard.
Furthermore, Bleacher Report shared a wild mock proposal that sends Paul George to one of the Clippers’ biggest Western Conference rivals. This package could be considered a win for Warriors fans, but for the LA Clippers, they lose by a mile.