After opting out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul George is considered by many as the highest prize of NBA free company. the remainder of this yr’s free-agency pool that’s in all probability true.
LeBron James is technically a free agent however after the Lakers employed J.J. Reddick as head coach and drafted his son Bronny, there may be zero probability he’s leaving L.A. So, that leaves George as arguably probably the most coveted free agent available on the market. However is PG actually the reply for a would-be contender desirous to take that subsequent step towards title city?
There’s no assure he’ll half methods with the Clippers after opting out of his deal. That is used as a bargaining chip to get extra money from the identical crew in lots of conditions. It’s the identical route James has chosen many occasions.
“Folks saying chasing a championship… It’s not that,” George said on a latest episode of his podcast, “nevertheless it’s enjoying the proper model of basketball is what I’m chasing.”
George is completely different as a result of he isn’t tied to the Clippers group the identical means James is to the Lakers at this level. Nonetheless, it is perhaps motive to count on him to remain in L.A. on condition that he needed to return dwelling 5 years in the past after enjoying in Indiana and Oklahoma Metropolis over the primary 9 years of his profession.
At first, there was a lot promise and expectation when George arrived on the behest of fellow southern California native, Kawhi Leonard. Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer put this crew along with George and Leonard main the way in which to compete for and win championships.
5 years later, George and the Clippers superior to the playoffs in 4 of these seasons and appeared in a single Western Convention Finals collection. It hasn’t been an abject failure, however the Clippers have but to return shut by way of constantly contending for a title.
With Leonard’s well being in query yr after yr, George has been the de facto chief of the crew – even at occasions when the previous is on the court docket. As a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA choice, Geroge is without doubt one of the higher gamers of his period.
Pretty much as good as George has been individually going again to his days with the Pacers, although, his groups have typically come up quick. And he’s been both the No. 1 or No. 2 choice most of his time within the NBA.
Throughout George’s second and ultimate yr (2018-19) with the Thunder, he skilled what is taken into account to have been his peak as a professional. That yr George averaged profession highs in factors (28), rebounds (8.2) and steals (2.2) per sport. These stats helped George end third in MVP and Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting.
Quick ahead to that yr’s postseason and George’s Thunder had been eradicated within the first spherical by the Portland Path Blazers in 5 video games. This was throughout Russell Westbrook’s triple-double run. Westbrook even completed within the high 10 in MVP voting as this was his third consecutive marketing campaign posting a triple-double.
All that firepower and the Thunder had been out within the first spherical of the playoffs. So, whereas George could also be one of the best free agent available on the market 5 years later, the notion that he can push a contender excessive may very well be debatable.
Groups just like the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in George’s providers this summer time. George is an outstanding expertise, that’s by no means been in query. However primarily based on his monitor document it’s laborious to say he’s the one piece to push a corporation excessive.