Insider reveals twist to Paul George-Clippers contract dispute

Kawhi Leonard (2) and forward Paul George. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Insider reveals interesting twist to Paul George-Clippers contract dispute

By Jeff Smith | Last updated Jul 1, 2024 12:11 AM ET

With the Paul George-Los Angeles Clippers era in the rearview mirror after the team announced the 34-year-old would be leaving, the future of both sides is a looming question. It didn't seem as though George and the Clippers ever truly came close during contract negotiations, but to make things even more interesting, ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealed another wrinkle in George's departure.

The Clippers, who were targeting a three-year contract extension for George similar to the $153M deal Kawhi Leonard signed back in January, apparently never told the now-free agent about his teammate's extension. Windhorst stated that George was never told about Leonard's deal at the time while speaking on ESPN's "NBA Today."

"When they signed Kawhi [Leonard] to that deal, they never told Paul George about it," Windhorst said.

"When they signed Kawhi [Leonard] to that deal, they never told Paul George about it." @WindhorstESPN on Paul George's negotiations with the Clippers pic.twitter.com/x9ASFP7iQ1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 30, 2024

This is obviously noteworthy for a few reasons, one of which is that Leonard signed the extension and openly discussed his teammate potentially inking a new deal afterward. The financial setup of the deal would have allowed the Clippers to retain both players without getting hit hard by the new CBA rules.

But while that plan makes sense in theory, it would have been wise to make sure all parties involved at least knew what was happening once the initial plan was put together. Now, George is set to ink a new deal elsewhere, and the Philadelphia 76ers look to have a big advantage over the rest of the field.

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith has extensive experience as a sports writer and editor, including stops at ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, USA TODAY SMG, and Heavy. Jeff's passion for sports content starts and finishes with writing and he's grateful to be able to work in that field on a daily basis.

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