The Los Angeles Clippers are not expected to trade Paul George despite the Portland Trail Blazers being interested in acquiring the small forward, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The Clippers are still planning to build around George and Kawhi Leonard.
“For all the mounting noise about Paul George’s trade candidacy in Los Angeles, don’t expect the Clippers to part with the eight-time All-Star,” Fischer wrote. “Portland has indeed registered interest in creating a package around the No. 3 pick for George, sources said, but those talks did not gain any traction with Los Angeles. There has certainly been talk of New York’s interest in acquiring George should the Clippers truly make him available, but Los Angeles has the intention to continue bolstering its roster around George and Kawhi Leonard — as evidenced by the team’s attempt to bring Brogdon into the fold.”
The Blazers have the third overall pick in the 2023 draft and they are trying to trade that pick for a star player like George. The eight-time All-Star averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists this past season for the Clippers while shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 87.1% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Clippers won 44 games in the regular season but lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. The 33-year-old George didn’t play in the Suns series due to a knee injury he suffered versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 21.
PG-13 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
If the Blazers don’t trade the third pick for a star player, will superstar point guard Damian Lillard request a trade? Some NBA teams are hoping that’s the case.
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