Although Paul George sits atop our list of 2024’s top 50 free agents, there’s a chance that the Clippers forward won’t actually become a free agent this offseason. George could sign an extension to remain in Los Angeles before free agency begins. There’s also another scenario worth keeping an eye on in the next week or so, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has mentioned during multiple recent podcasts and TV appearances that an opt-in-and-trade could be an option for George (hat tip to RealGM).
George holds a $48.8MM player option for 2024/25, and if he decides he wants to join a team that doesn’t have the cap room necessary to sign him as a free agent, he could pick up his option in conjunction with a trade agreement in order to allow the Clippers to get something back for him while getting him to his preferred destination. A former Clipper, Chris Paul, took this route in 2017 in order to accommodate a trade from Los Angeles to Houston.
While it sounds more like speculation than hard reporting, Windhorst has repeatedly referred to the Knicks as a suitor who would make sense in this scenario, since they could offer a strong combination of rotation players and draft assets in a trade package for George (Twitter video link).
If George opts for free agency, a sign-and-trade deal in which the Clippers acquire multiple players for him likely wouldn’t be possible, since a new CBA rule prohibits second-apron teams from taking back salary in exchange for a signed-and-traded player.
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Windhorst said during an appearance on Friday’s episode of First Take (YouTube link) that the Bucks may look to shake up their core this offseason, though neither Giannis Antetokounmpo nor Damian Lillard is considered a trade candidate. “There’s starting to be rumblings that (Bucks head coach) Doc Rivers is looking for a change or two to some of their core pieces,” Windhorst said. “Not Dame or Giannis, but potentially looking at another maneuver they could make to alter their team.” Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported earlier today that Milwaukee center Brook Lopez is viewed as a possible trade candidate.
- The Lakers, Grizzlies, and Pelicans are a few of the teams who are “closely monitoring” the market for centers this offseason, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, who took a closer look at whether New York will consider moving Mitchell Robinson. Like Lopez, Robinson has been cited as a potential trade candidate.
- Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday (Twitter video link), Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested that the Lakers may renew their pursuit of a Hawks guard in the coming days. “They have to be aggressive,” Charania said. “One name that they did pursue last season at the trade deadline that teams around the league expect to come up again in trade conversations over the next week or so and makes sense for the Lakers is Dejounte Murray of the Hawks.” Atlanta is widely expected to trade either Murray or Trae Young this summer — Young has also previously been mentioned as a possible Lakers target.
Agreed
Steve Balmer and Clippers won’t let George walk for nothing
If you are interested in him，you can offer a good young player, two future Firsts and salary filler
Isn’t that fair to both teams?
Sign and trades do not get that kind of return, so that kind of return likely won’t happen for a 34 year old wanting a max extension.
Only if he takes the player option. If he elects to be a free agent he can do whatever he wants without any compensation.
I am not sure if this trade works.
Knicks get Paul George — total salary $49M
Clippers get OG and Randle — total salary $50M
George weakness: don’t want to chase the championship, want something else
No way I do that trade if I am NY. I’M not trading a 26 year old OG for George. I would do Randle, maybe Hartenstein in a sign and trade and a pick
Your brokering skills are unmatched, @sillivan. Multiple sign and trades in the same deal, why not? Pure genius.
It would work but it seems more likely the Knicks would trade Bogdanovic in OG Anunoby’s place.
Redick will want to acquire a guy who can shoot off movement at a really high level, like he did, so he can run some of the same actions he was very successful with late in his career, like Chicago action w/ Embiid.
The Lakers don’t currently have a guy who can sprint off a pindown offball and get a shot for himself or draw so much attention that it creates a shot for others. And Trae Young and Dejounte aren’t that guy either.
If they trade away multiple first round draft picks, I’d expect the Lakers to target an elite off ball guy who will make Redick’s offense look good – Markannen, Michael Porter Jr. on the high end in terms of cost, or low-cost of acquisition guys like Cam Johnson, Luke Kennard, Michael Beasley, Klay in FA, etc.
Again, trading for Dejounte Murray sounds good in theory but you’ll run into everyone thinking ‘Redick’s offense sucks!’ because the spacing is awful and there’s no gravity to open up the lane for AD and Lebron.
Agreed on your Murray points and good job tying it to JJ
I like your targets but Lauri probably outta range, Den/Lal trade difficult 1v1 with aprons, Brk seems to ask too much, Beasley already spurned and I don’t see taking Kennard even on the Tpmle (too many bad defensive G already) over B/u C help (Goga please) with that small exception
The Klay piece on the full MLe would require a loss of at least Dlo Prince, that theoretical Bu C for Tpmle and possibly even Christie …. Jeanie would probably love it if Klay signed off, I dont think it makes sense for a team build tho. Like the thought process tho…
– Rui JHS Lewis 17 this year 29 and 31 unprotected with the 26-28-30 swaps for Lauiri. That be the deal Id be willing to bet the house on if possible before next Wednesday
Warriors are looking for a big center too. I wonder why they left them off the list of teams looking for a center?
Opt in and trade,
PG to NY for Randle and Robinson
NY then let OG walk and Philly pays him crazy money can resign Hartenstein and Precious.
LA gets a star back and Robinson then goes onto the trade block.
NY has to scramble to find a replacement PF but have cap space with Bogdan gone aswell.
This deal won’t work with the rules..
Trade works fine logistically as an opt-in as poster stated….a sign and trade (w ext) wouldn’t have, might be 1~2 mill short from NYK off hand but you can add Jefferies or Sims and it be fine
Saying all that no way I see PG waiting 6 months for something to risk the 200+ he could get in 10 days. He’s got his nicest pen ready rest assured. That takes all likelhood of opt ins off the table IMO
Also agree low key. If I’m PG idc for the rumours and all the talk, show me the money
A few years ago
Clippers Chris Paul talked to Rockets before he opted in and then he got 4 years max
Opt in is not the problem
Now that Sullivan is muted. A second apron team can only trade one for one. This makes this scenario highy unlikely to happen as it limits them to only 1 player making 48mil.
Second apron teams can take back multiple players they just cant aggregate themselves or take back more money in a trade .
So if your a second apron team you could trade your 50 mill guy for 3 players making 20/16/10
You just now muted the bot?
Clippers aren’t a player in the west in the foreseeable future in my opinion with or without George, still the best team in L.A., though.
Dejounte is about the best Lakers could hope for. Still doesn’t make them a contender and other teams probably have better packages.
Let me dream….Giannis and Dame for Wiggins, CP3, GP2, Looney, Podz and TJD and whatever picks GSW has left…at least its feasible (I think?)
The name change didn’t help homer
If clippers lose PG they can get Derozen who is rarely hurt so they won’t need to panic.
No they can’t
Not a fan of PG coming to Knicks. Not at 44 with his injury history. Plus for Knicks now. It makes no sense. OG is 26 Randle is 28 Brunson is 25. OG is a FA who we gave up value for. So why would they scrap that for PG. They play same position. Forget all PG rumors.
The player most likely to be moved is Mitch. By Knicks. I don’t see a major trade for Knicks right now. After draft I think it will be clearer to see what they do. Or hope to do
That’s 34 yrs old, excuse me.