Paul George was right to call the Clippers' bluff in contract negotiations

George was right to request a no-trade clause. The last time the Clippers pitched a player on retiring with the franchise, they traded Blake Griffin shortly after signing him to an extension. By adding the no-trade to his contract, George would have been protected from history repeating itself. 

The Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard and George, were an expensive team. As both of its star players continued to age, it's plausible the front office would entertain trade discussions for one of the star forwards. George is in the final stage of his career and needs to maximize his income while he still can. 

If George didn't believe the Clippers pitch was trustworthy, he was right to stand his ground in contract negotiations. Ultimately, that led to him leaving the franchise and heading back to the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, he signed a big contract and is still on a contending team. He might not be in Los Angeles, but George certainly made the most of his free agency.