Tim Kawakami from The Athletic reported that the Warriors' trade offers for Paul George included Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and a future first-round pick in various combinations. The Warriors' front office believed they made several trade proposals that the Clippers could accept, but they were not willing to include all those players and picks in one deal.
The Warriors were ready to offer Paul George a new max contract extension, but for any trade to happen, he needed to agree to the final year of his current contract.
Instead, Paul George chose to become a free agent and will look at other options. Shams Charania from The Athletic and Stadium reported that George plans to meet with the Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic when free agency starts. The 76ers and Magic both have enough cap space to sign him directly.
The Clippers and Paul George have been trying to agree on a contract extension for months without success. George wants a four-year max deal, but the Clippers have only offered him a three-year, $149.7 million contract like the one Kawhi Leonard signed in January. This standoff has left the Clippers in a tough spot, as free agency is about to start, and they risk losing George for nothing if they don't meet his demands.
Clippers president Lawrence Frank said the team wants to keep Paul George, but they have to think about the financial impact of the new collective bargaining agreement.
"This is a business, and the new CBA affects teams like ours," Frank said. "When your top players are in their 30s and you're trying to create a sustainable roster, it has an impact."
"If there were no CBA, with team owner Steve Ballmer, we could spend freely," Frank said. "But with the new CBA, it's not just about money; it's about building a sustainable roster and keeping the ability to make trades. This leads to very tough decisions."
Right now, the Clippers are about $54.1 million below the first tax limit and $65 million below the second tax limit. Re-signing Paul George would bring them close to the first tax limit, even without considering the possibility of James Harden returning. If they bring back both Harden and George, they would exceed the second tax limit, greatly limiting their ability to make roster changes in the future.
Due to the current collective bargaining agreement, the Warriors are facing financial constraints that may lead to Klay Thompson leaving in free agency this summer. Golden State has been one of the NBA's highest-spending teams, but owner Joe Lacob has expressed a desire to reduce their tax obligations.
Failing to acquire Paul George leaves the Warriors facing a critical decision. They could avoid paying luxury taxes by releasing Chris Paul and his $30 million contract, but doing so would probably mean the team stays in the draft lottery for a long time.
SOURCE: Bleacher Report