Clippers Notes: George, Leonard, Harrell, Morris

Tonight marks Paul George‘s first game in Oklahoma City since requesting a trade, and the All-Star swingman isn’t sure what kind of reception to expect, writes Mark Medina of USA Today. George had two strong years with the Thunder before asking to be dealt to his hometown so he could team up with Kawhi Leonard. The move represented a turning point for OKC, which traded franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook a few days later.

George had a similar experience two years ago when he informed the Pacers that he wouldn’t re-sign with the organization once he had a chance to opt out of his contract. He wanted to go home to L.A. then, hoping to join the Lakers, but wound up getting sent to the Thunder.

“I don’t know how it’s going to go (in OKC). I don’t think it’s going to be worse than Indiana,” George said. “But whatever it is, I still have the same message and people that I still love and people that I’m close to and people that are close to me in Oklahoma.”

There’s more Clippers news to pass along:

• Leonard continues to hear boos from Spurs fans even though last night marked his third trip to San Antonio since he was traded last year, Medina adds in a separate story. Leonard didn’t acknowledge the reception, but torched the home team with 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. “The boos is just love,” he said afterward. “Just taking it as that, I’m here for a reason, to win a ball game. It only can make me better and make our team better with the crowd not being on our side.”
• A league survey by Jovan Buha of The Athletic indicates Montrezl Harrell could command an annual salary of $20MM or more in free agency next summer, which might make him too expensive for the Clippers to keep. With George and Leonard combining for nearly $70MM next season, that would be a huge investment in three players, especially if the organization doesn’t think Harrell can ever develop into more than a productive bench player. Buha points out that the L.A. also has Maurice Harkless and probably JaMychal Green as 2020 free agents, with Lou Williams and Rodney McGruder hitting the market the following summer, along with Landry Shamet as a potential restricted free agent.
• In the same piece, Buha examines a trade proposed by ESPN’s Zach Lowe, who suggests sending Harkless, Patrick Patterson and a 2020 first-rounder to the Knicks for Marcus Morris, whom the Clippers targeted in free agency this summer. Buha notes that Morris would provide valuable shooting help, but isn’t convinced that the upgrade would be worth surrendering a first-rounder.