A former NBA exec has proposed that the New York Knicks acquire Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who used to work for the Brooklyn Nets, is proposing that the Knicks trade RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier and three future draft picks to the Clippers for George.
“Trading George to New York for a package of players and draft picks, centered around RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes, protects the Clippers if George were to walk in free agency next season,” Marks wrote. “More importantly, it gives LA financial flexibility and draft capital to remain a playoff team in the Western Conference. For the Knicks, the reward is a top-20 player at half the cost that would have been required to acquire Donovan Mitchell last year.
“New York would still have six first-round picks available to trade in future deals, is under the luxury tax for 2023-24 and is not in danger of becoming a second apron team in 2024-25 even if George were extended.”
The Knicks talked to the Clippers about a George trade in June, but New York was hesitant about acquiring the 33-year-old, according to Andrew Greif and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. George has only played in 87 out of a possible 164 games in the past two seasons. It appears the Knicks were not ready to trade for a player who is prone to injuries.
George, when healthy, is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. The eight-time All-Star averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Clippers last season while shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc, and 87.1% from the free-throw line.
However, George missed the final nine games of the regular season with a knee injury and didn’t play in the first round of the 2023 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. Without George, the Clippers lost to the Suns in five games.
George signed a four-year, $176 million maximum contract extension with the Clippers in December 2020. The six-time All-NBA forward will make $45.6 million next season. He has a player option worth $48.8 million for the 2024-25 season.
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