Analyzing why the Clippers are moving on from All-Star Paul George after a disappointing tenure, the roster and financial implications, and how this changes the franchise’s outlook.
The recent news that the LA Clippers will not re-sign forward Paul George foreshadows a new era for the franchise. We’ll examine the reasons behind this difficult decision and what comes next.
The End of an Era: Analyzing the Clippers’ Decision to Part Ways with Paul George
The recent news that the Los Angeles Clippers have decided not to re-sign All-Star forward Paul George sent shockwaves through the NBA. In this in-depth blog post, we’ll analyze the reasons behind the Clippers’ choice, the impact on the team’s future, George’s performance during his LA tenure, the financial considerations, potential roster moves, how the fanbase is reacting, and what comes next for the franchise.
Why the Clippers Chose Not to Retain Their Star Forward
When the Clippers traded for Paul George in 2019, pairing him with Kawhi Leonard, it signaled their ambition to become an NBA powerhouse. However, despite some strong regular seasons, the duo failed to achieve much playoff success.
According to reports, the decision not to re-sign George centered on salary demands and injury history:
- George wanted a longer and more lucrative contract than the team was willing to offer
- There were concerns over his ability to stay healthy for an extended deal
Ultimately, the Clippers chose financial flexibility and roster stability over locking in George long-term. This allows them to:
- Pursue other free agents down the line
- Re-sign rising stars like Terance Mann
- Avoid being hamstrung by a burdensome contract if injuries continue
The move also reflects evolving league dynamics, as the Clippers resist desperation and establish themselves as a principled franchise, no longer living in the Lakers’ shadow.
George’s Production and Impact in Los Angeles
Since joining the Clippers in 2019, George has averaged:
- 23.4 points per game
- 6.4 rebounds
- 5.5 assists
However, his LA tenure has also been marred by injury absences, missing over 100 regular season games.
In the playoffs, George contributed:
- 21.4 points per game
- 7.7 rebounds
- 5.5 assists
But he shot just 41.7% from the field and 33% from three-point range.
Advanced stats also show George’s impact lagging behind other elite wings like Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum in recent postseasons.
So while still a quality player, George’s Clippers production didn’t quite live up to expectations.
The Financial Reality of a Max Contract
Had the Clippers re-signed George to a maximum-salary contract, it would have been 4 years, $198 million.
With the team already paying Kawhi Leonard $42 million in 2024-25, this would have pushed them deep into the luxury tax.
When you also factor in the more punitive repeater tax rules under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, it had the potential to get extremely expensive.
Avoiding this scenario gives the Clippers more financial flexibility moving forward. They can use their cap space to add affordable complementary pieces around Leonard.
Where Do the Clippers Go From Here?
Losing an All-Star like George leaves a big hole in the Clippers roster. They have a few avenues to fill it:
Trade Market
The Clippers could explore packaging some of their younger assets like Terance Mann, Luke Kennard and draft picks to land another established star.
Bradley Beal is one name to watch if he becomes available.
Free Agency
Using their salary cap space on the open market is another option. Khris Middleton and Jerami Grant are realistic targets in 2023 free agency.
Internal Development
The Clippers have a string of recent draft picks like Brandon Boston Jr. and Moussa Diabate they can develop into contributors.
Regardless of path, expect them to aggressively retool, rather than rebuild. With Leonard in his prime, the championship window remains open.
Clippers Fans Process the End of an Era
Fan reactions to the news have been mixed:
- Many feel George failed to deliver in big playoff moments
- Others argue the Clippers are losing a top 20 talent entering his peak
- Some praise the franchise for sticking to their principles
There’s anxiety about how this impacts the team’s title hopes. But also optimism that a Leonard-led squad can attract another star.
This bittersweet end to the George era closes the book on an ambitious Clippers experiment. The franchise is still searching for its first championship, but they are determined to one day hang their own banner at Crypto.com Arena.
The Road Ahead
It remains to be seen whether parting with Paul George was the right move for the Clippers title pursuit. But this decision signals their intent to build around Kawhi Leonard on their own terms, maintaining both short and long-term financial flexibility.
In closing, these are the key takeaways:
- Concerns over injuries/salary demands triggered the non-re-signing
- George was productive but fell short of elite playoff expectations
- Avoiding an expensive extension allows roster flexibility going forward
- Several options exist to inject talent – trades, free agency, internal
- Fanbase has mixed feelings seeing a top player leave his prime
- Clippers remain ambitious about crafting a championship contender
Where do you stand – did the franchise make the right call? Let me know your perspective in the comments!
Let me know what you think of the Clippers’ choice and how you see this impacting their future title hopes. Share your reactions or insights in the comments!
