Former Clippers Star Explains How Losing Paul George Could Be A Blessing In Disguise

When NBA swingman Paul George left the Clippers to join the 76ers this summer it took many fans by surprise. And while some believe the Clippers have no chance without George, former league All-Star Baron Davis believes his departure could set up a major redemption arc.

“Paul George is my dawg. That’s my brother and so I’m always player-first... and for the Clippers, who knows, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise because it forces you now to actually play through Kawhi and James Harden," said Davis to Brandon Robinson on 'Scoop B Radio'. "So you have two superstars and you pick up some good players in free agency and I think they signed a sleeper in free agency which is Kevin Porter Jr."

Baron Davis was a 13-year NBA veteran who played for six teams over his career. He spent two and a half seasons with the Clippers, where he averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game on 39.4% shooting. Davis has long been retired from his playing days but he has worked for them before as an announcer and it seems his voice carries weight within the organization.

On the topic of Paul George, Davis doesn't see the loss like everyone else. Despite what impact his experience and talent provide, Baron says that they don't need him to compete with the best in the West.

Of course, the Clippers gave up a massive haul to acquire George in 2019. As part of the arrangement to bring in him and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers gave up Shai Gigeous-Alexander and a whopping five future first-round picks. Their thinking was that by sacrificing their future, they could build a team to win now and establish a dynasty to bring home their first title.

Things started out well enough at first and as George and Leonard proved themselves as one of the best duos in the game, the Clippers gained more confidence in their chances of making a championship run. They handed out huge contracts and went to great lengths to keep their stars happy and healthy... and yet it never brought a championship.

This past summer, Paul George left the team after five years to pursue a new path with Joel Embiid and the 76ers. After averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 47.1% shooting, George proved that he can still contribute at an All-Star level but there are questions about his game holds up in the postseason.

To date, George has never been farther than the Conference Finals and it's going to take an incredible effort to get there with his new team Meanwhile, the Clippers are still in a pretty good position overall.

With Kahwi Leonard and James Harden, they still have two superstars to build their team around. Now, they also have an impressive supporting cast to back them up, including Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Kenin Porter Jr., and Terance Mann.

If they play their cards right and manage to stay healthy, the Clips can make a real run in the West and threaten NBA elites like the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Mavericks for supremacy in the league.