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2024 Free Agents - Paul George

Summary
When healthy, George is a borderline top-15 NBA player, and someone that is an All-Star lock and an All-NBA candidate. The only issue is that he hasn't been all that healthy in recent years, missing an average of about 30 games per season since joining the Clippers. While he was maligned for his playoff performance in 2020, he bounced back and was excellent in 2021, especially once Kawhi Leonard got injured, as he helped the Clippers finish off the Jazz in the second round and kept the Clippers competitive with the Suns in the conference finals despite being undermanned. More recently, he had some big moments in the 2024 playoffs but overall looked underqualified as the primary option on a team trying to win a playoff series.

Offensively, George is an on-ball creator that is also malleable enough to fit in next to another heavy usage wing. He has a tight enough handle to create space in isolations, and can operate as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll effectively. He isn't the pick-and-roll master in the vein of Luka Doncic or Lebron James, but he can make the right reads. He has posted near elite assist rates for his position for the majority of his career, according to Cleaning the Glass. 

George is also a three-level scorer, as he's a 38% career 3-point shooter that can hit shots off-the-dribble or spotting up, has enough size and shake to get midrange jumpers off, and can get to the rim, despite not finishing at a great rate inside the last few years. That below-average rim finishing as caused him to post just a 59% true shooting with the Clippers, which is very good but not elite.

Defensively, George is no longer the All-Defense caliber player he was in his prime, but he's still a very good defender. He continues to post very high steal rates, and rebounds well for a wing. With his size and mobility, he can defend multiple positions and use his length to stay in front of defenders and bother shots.

George will be 34 years old as a free agent in 2024, and given his recent injury history, there's a chance that teams could be unwilling to give him a huge long-term contract.
 
Cap Considerations
George has a $48.8 million player option for '24-'25. If he opts out, George will be an unrestricted free agent with a $49.7 million cap hold and full Bird rights. Since George will have a large cap hold, the Clippers will not have any cap space unless George opts out and leaves in free agency, so his cap hold isn't really relevant. 

If George becomes a free agent, the Clippers can offer him up to a 5-year, $286.2 million max contract, with a player option and 15% trade bonus as possible sweeteners as well.

Other teams will be able to offer George a 4-year, $212.2 million max offer, with a player option and 15% trade bonus. George could also sign a shorter-term contract if he wants more flexibility.

Potential Teams: Clippers, 76ers, Thunder, Magic, Knicks

Predicted Contract: 5-year, $286.2 million with the Clippers

Actual Contract: 4-year, $220.4 million (4th year player option, 15% trade bonus) with the 76ers

I thought George having the leverage of outside max offers would get the Clippers to pony up the full max, but they weren't even willing to give out four years, causing George to leave for Philadelphia.

Last updated: 7/14/2024

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