PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The LA Clippers hope to enter their new residence, the Intuit Dome, subsequent season with Paul George and James Harden.
Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, mentioned the Clippers hope to retain each stars to proceed enjoying alongside Kawhi Leonard.
George has a participant choice on the $48.8 million due subsequent season and might grow to be a free agent if he and the Clippers are unable to return to an settlement on an extension earlier than June 30. Harden shall be an unrestricted free agent. The purpose guard may wait to see what occurs with George first earlier than determining his future with the Clippers.
“We would like to have the ability to convey again and retain Paul and James,” Frank mentioned Monday. “We’re hopeful we are able to, but in addition perceive and respect the truth that they’re free brokers. Paul has a choice along with his choice. James shall be an unrestricted free agent, so our intent is to convey him again, but in addition understand that they are elite gamers they usually’ll have decisions.”
George is eligible to enroll to a four-year, $221 million extension by means of June 30. The Clippers can nonetheless supply George as much as that a lot if he turns into a free agent. Different potential suitors can supply a max that’s $9 million lower than what the Clippers can supply.
After the Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year, $150-million extension in early January, George mentioned he remained optimistic that he and the Clippers may come to an settlement on an extension. However Frank mentioned the 2 sides determined to desk talks across the All-Star break.
After LA’s 114-101 loss in Sport 6 at Dallas, George was requested whether or not he sees himself with the Clippers long run with Leonard and Harden.
“Yeah,” George mentioned. “If it really works that manner, completely.”
With the Clippers prone to grow to be a second apron staff, it will likely be troublesome for them to improve the squad. Frank talked about attempting so as to add extra complementary items round his stars. Leonard is 32, and George and Harden are 34.
George performed 74 regular-season video games this season, probably the most he has performed by far in his 5 seasons with the Clippers. The All-Star averaged 22.6 factors, 5.2 rebounds and a career-high 41.3% from 3 this season.
George, who averaged 19.5 factors, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists within the first-round sequence in opposition to Dallas, helped the Clippers attain their first Western Convention finals in 2021.
“We would like Paul, we worth Paul,” Frank mentioned. “Paul’s achieved some large issues right here. He is an elite participant, and our greatest factor is we at all times need to have the ability to deal with gamers effectively and pay them pretty, and we additionally should construct out a staff, particularly, this can be a new CBA. However when it comes to the precise cash, I’d by no means go into particulars aside from we have had actually, actually good conversations over the course of the 12 months and hopeful that we are able to get him to stay a Clipper.”
After coming to the Clippers by way of commerce per week into the season, Harden helped orchestrate the perfect regular-season stretch of the Leonard-George period. The Clippers went 26-5 throughout a stretch between December and early February to face atop the Western Convention standings for a day at 34-15.
The staff completed with 51 wins and fourth within the West, nevertheless it sputtered to a 17-16 end amid accidents and a lull in play. Leonard missed the ultimate eight regular-season video games and Sport 1 of the primary spherical with irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee. Though Leonard performed in Video games 2 and three, he regarded restricted and his knee did not reply the best way he had hoped. The staff held Leonard out for the rest of the sequence.
Frank mentioned Leonard wouldn’t have been obtainable to play as of now had the Clippers superior.
Leonard performed in 68 video games, probably the most he has performed in a daily season since 2016-17. Frank mentioned the staff must assess how one can finest handle Leonard’s proper knee, which has undergone surgical procedures for a torn ACL and torn meniscus since 2021.
“We’re nonetheless coping with the irritation,” Frank mentioned. “The encouraging factor is that this appears large image minor in nature in that it isn’t a structural factor. The truth is that we’ll proceed to attempt to be taught and how one can handle his proper knee. He is had two surgical procedures on his knee, however he is proven that he could be sturdy.”
Frank says that regardless that the Clippers have completed their previous 4 seasons with one or each of their stars injured or in poor health, he believes the staff can nonetheless flip its fortunes round subsequent season.
“I perceive the skepticism of that is one other 12 months the place you have not had the group [healthy],” Frank mentioned. “However I’d guard in opposition to the cynicism. Simply because it is occurred [again] does not imply it is at all times going to occur subsequent 12 months.”
