The Los Angeles Clippers wanted RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and three first-round picks from the New York Knicks for Paul George, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Knicks decided to decline the offer and have moved on from their pursuit of George.
“The Knicks and Clippers originally had trade talks surrounding Paul George at the NBA Draft,” Scotto wrote. “At the time, New York was considering a package featuring Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, and three first-round picks in exchange for George, league sources told HoopsHype. Toppin was then traded to the Pacers for two second-round picks, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
“After that, RJ Barrett’s name was brought up briefly in trade talks by the Clippers in place of Toppin, league sources told HoopsHype. However, the asking price of parting with Barrett, Grimes, three first-round picks, and then having to negotiate a long-term extension for George, who’s 33 years old, was too high for the Knicks.”
The Knicks were interested in acquiring George from the Clippers, but things changed after New York got word that the forward was seeking a massive extension. George is eligible for a contract extension worth $220 million over four years.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers & New York Knicks Updates
It appears the Knicks were not ready to trade for a player who is prone to injuries. George has only played in 87 out of a possible 164 games in the past two seasons. The eight-time All-Star averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Clippers last season while shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc, and 87.1% from the free-throw line.
However, George missed the final nine games of the regular season with a knee injury and didn’t play in the first round of the 2023 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. Without George, the Clippers lost to the Suns in five games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers & New York Knicks Updates
George 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.
The Knicks continue to monitor the market in search of adding another star player alongside Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle to bolster the team’s chances of competing in the East.
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