“Following the Golden State Warriors ’ decision to trade Klay Thompson this summer, it became evident that the team needed to acquire another star player to remain competitive in the championship race. For a considerable period, Paul George appeared to be the likely candidate to fill this role. However, contrary to expectations, PG13 signed a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
On his podcast, Draymond Green discussed this unexpected turn of events, expressing frustration with the LA Clippers for not just denying a sign-and-trade proposal but even accusing them of deliberately preventing George from joining the team he allegedly preferred.
"Paul George was going to come to the Warriors, and we wanted Paul George to come to the Warriors," Green said . "We always talk about these organizations, what they do for their players and whatnot… and the Clippers didn't really want to play ball, didn't really want to help him get to where he wanted to go."
Why couldn’t the Warriors acquire George?
The Clippers were evidently seeking to acquire younger, promising talents to bolster their roster. However, negotiations with the 2022 NBA Champs reached an impasse when the latter refused to include Jonathan Kuminga in the proposed sign-and-trade deal. Golden State’s position over the salary cap compounded the situation, preventing them from offering a maximum contract to Paul.
Given that the Clippers weren’t able to land lucrative returns in exchange for the nine-time All-Star, Draymond sounded certain that the Clips weren’t in favor of seeing PG13 share the court with Stephen Curry and him, that too in the same conference.
"So in turn, they get nothing back, whereas you could've gotten something back for Paul George walking, they get absolutely nothing back," Green added. " I kind of understand it, I suppose. You don't want him in the same division as you, because you may know how that looks if he comes with us."
Related: Michael Jordan opens up about his older brother Larry not making the NBA: "He has always been a good player, but he just didn't grow enough"
What options do the Warriors have after their failed PG13 bid?
The Warriors are clearly searching for another high-volume scorer to pair with Steph. In this context, Brandon Ingram and Zach LaVine are the ideal candidates, and they have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors for the past couple of years.
Considering the Chicago Bulls have already traded Alex Caruso and are likely to lose DeMar DeRozan as well, LaVine has ample reasons to consider moving on. As he is owed $89 million over the next two seasons, sending younger players in exchange to Chicago could provide coach Steve Kerr with a player who can aggressively charge towards the rim, shot 3-pointers at 38.2% efficiency, and can perfectly fit into his fast-paced offensive system. Lastly, Zach can also provide defensive support to Green.
On the other hand, Ingram is on an expiring contract, and with Dejounte Murray joining the Pelicans, the 26-year-old could be a unique addition to their roster.
Related: "I don't think they have ever been right since" - Brandon Jennings says Golden State's dynasty ended before Klay Thompson's exit
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