Predicting when every member of Clippers' starting 5 might leave
By Will Eudy
Paul George
If there is one member of the Clippers' starting five that is more likely to eventually leave than the rest, it would have to be Paul George. Especially considering he could be on the verge of leaving extremely soon. George currently has until June 29 to exercise his player option for next season, which would become the final year on his current deal. But he very well may decline the option, opening him up to free agency.
From there, PG can of course still re-sign in LA, but his odds of departing obviously go way up. Should he opt into next year, Paul will be owed over $48 million from the Clippers, with the following summer bringing unrestricted free agency for him. Obviously, what he decides to do will have major ramifications on the Clippers' plans for this offseason and beyond.
The truth is that Paul George has been the second-best player for the Clippers over the course of the last half-decade. He has helped elevate this group to the level of a consistent Western Conference contender. As much as Clippers fans may want him to stay, the chances of him going elsewhere to take a bigger payday seem to be increasing. My prediction is that PG departs from LA this summer to join another contending team.