The Los Angeles Clippers are heading into the most important year yet of the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George era.
To date, the duo has been unable to come anywhere close to winning a championship together.
With their contracts winding down, many are now wondering whether the pair will ever realize the potential most imagined they had when they first linked.
This week, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst offered some insight on where the Clippers go from here as it pertains to both Leonard and George.
Both Leonard and George have player options after next year that will permit them to become free agents. That means, in theory, they can both move on should they choose to do so.
Will that incentivize the Clippers’ front office to hand the team’s two franchise players long-term deals? It would appear not.
“I don’t think there’s any chance that those guys get four-year extensions,” Windhorst said.
“They both can be free agents after next season because they have player options. There’s no chance that they’re getting extended four years. I would be stunned if they get extended four years. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t get extended, though. And that the Clippers won’t make an offer or even a multi-year offer.”
Over the past two years Leonard has played just 52 games each season. George, meanwhile, has played in 31 and 56 games over the past two years. Clearly you can’t win a title in this league when your two best players routinely aren’t playing.
Ty Lue came out this week and sent a pretty strong message to Leonard and George.
What will ultimately come of it remains to be seen.
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