One NBA writer is proposing that the New York Knicks trade for Los Angeles Clippers small forward Paul George in a huge blockbuster deal. Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Knicks and Clippers:
New York Knicks Receive: Paul George
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Evan Fournier, 2024 Knicks First-Round Pick
The Clippers wanted RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and three first-round picks from the Knicks in George trade talks earlier this offseason, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Knicks decided to decline the offer and moved on from their pursuit of George.
“The Knicks and Clippers originally had trade talks surrounding Paul George at the NBA Draft,” Scotto wrote in his NBA trade column. “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.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks Updates
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.
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 NBA 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 NBA 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.
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