Harden was suppose to be the 8th option, this is all on George and Kawhi and Zubac and Westbrook and Powell and Mann...
Harden with 16 on 16 shots George with 18 on 18 shots Situation is crazy, I don't think it can be fixed
Morey used as leverage? https://hoopshype.com/lists/clipper...james-harden-ty-lue-lawrence-frank-pj-tucker/ Many around the league believe George will want to remain in Los Angeles as a Clipper, but after two total postseason trips ending in a first-round exit in the past three seasons, an aging core going forward, and limited flexibility to improve if the trio remains, will George desire the convenience of playing at home or chase a potentially better chance to win elsewhere? The Clippers want to retain George as one of their foundational core pieces going into the opening of Intuit Dome later in 2024 and beyond, but extension talks with the nine-time All-Star broke down earlier this season with the organization hoping he’d take less than a max contract in discussions, league sources told HoopsHype. The Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $153 million extension on January 11. Ideally, the organization didn’t want to go above that contract to extend the 34-year-old George, with Leonard viewed as the team’s best player, league sources told HoopsHype. However, the Clippers may not have a choice and be forced to pay George a max contract or risk losing him as he’s expected to command significant interest on the free agent market, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic already being linked to the versatile forward. One scenario the 76ers have envisioned this offseason is a trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and George, league sources told HoopsHype. However, some around the league wonder if George would be willing to relocate across the country to the colder weather and if the Sixers will be used as potential leverage during free agency negotiations. George could also have a larger market than only teams with cap space this summer. Theoretically, George could opt into his contract and be traded with the understanding he’d work out a new deal, which would open up possibilities for teams like the Kings, Heat, Rockets, Mavericks, and others looking to acquire another star to fortify their championship contending chances going into next season. … Ideally, Harden wants to re-sign with the Clippers this offseason, league sources told HoopsHype. The 10-time All-Star has enjoyed playing close to home, near his family, and remained a high-level player with the Clippers in his first season with the franchise. The feeling is mutual, as ESPN reported, with the Clippers hopeful to re-sign Harden this summer. Ultimately, many around the league expect Harden to remain a Clipper, and the only question is what type of contract the Clippers and Harden will agree upon.
LA Clippers 2023-24 record: 51-31 Draft picks in June: No. 46 (via IND) Free agents: Paul George (P), James Harden, Mason Plumlee, P.J. Tucker (P), Daniel Theis, Russell Westbrook (P), Moussa Diabate (R), Brandon Boston Jr. (R) and Xavier Moon (R) State of the roster: The 35-14 record prior to Feb. 6 gave a glimpse to what the Clippers could accomplish when healthy. LA was 44-24 during the regular season when Harden, George and Kawhi Leonard were on the court together. The first-round loss to the Mavericks, however, provided a stark reminder of how fragile the current roster is. For a third time in four postseasons, the Clippers were eliminated with Leonard on the sideline because of an injury. Since tearing his ACL in Game 4 of the 2021 West semifinals, Leonard has played in only four of 19 playoff games. The second-most expensive roster in NBA history enters the offseason with the same durability questions from years past. This summer however is different. George has a player option and could become a free agent if an extension is not worked out prior to June 30. Harden is an unrestricted free agent. Re-signing both players would put the Clippers over the second apron. Leonard's three-year, $150 million extension did show the Clippers are comfortable being in the apron next season. If both players are not signed, the Clippers would open their new arena, the Intuit Dome, with the oft-injured Leonard and a collection of reserves. LA would still be over the salary cap if George leaves. Offseason finances: The Clippers' current salaries have them in the second apron. From now until June 30, LA is not allowed to send out cash in a trade, take back more money than it receives in a trade, or aggregate contracts sent out. George's $48.8 million player option for next season will determine if the Clippers remain above the $189.6 million second apron. If George signs for a comparable starting salary and Harden returns, the Clippers will likely exceed $200 million in payroll. LA is also a repeater tax team and will once again pay a significant luxury tax penalty. In the scenario where George and Harden do not return, the Clippers would have the $12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and the $4.7 million biannual exception. George, Tucker ($11.5 million) and Westbrook ($4.5 million) have until June 29 to opt in to their contracts. Despite their finances, the Clippers are allowed to use the second-round exception to sign their draft choice to a contract of three or four seasons. Top front office priority: There are three questions the Clippers will need to ask regarding the futures of George and Harden: (1) Who are we bidding against? (2) Is there a walk away number if the price is too rich? (3) What is the option to replace either player? The Clippers cannot afford to lose George and Harden. However, considering their finances and the players' ages (both are 34), there has to be a compromise on the next contract. There is also the question of whether Leonard's three-year, $150 million extension set the bar on a new contract for George, who played his most games (74) since 2018-19 and shot a career-high 41% on 3-pointers. He and Leonard were the only players to average 20 points and 1.5 steals and shoot 40% on 3-pointers this season. But George is 34 years old and, like Leonard, had not been durable prior to this year. He played a total of 87 regular-season games in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $221 million extension through June 30. The extension is the same contract the Clippers can offer if George becomes a free agent in July. There is only a $9 million difference between what the Clippers could offer and what George could get from another team. Playoff teams such as the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers have significant cap space to offer a lucrative contract to George. However, the Magic and Thunder are facing a financial crunch in the near future. Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Josh Giddey are eligible to sign extensions this offseason and then Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could do the same the following year. The 76ers, on the other hand, have the cap space to sign George outright. There are also lottery teams (Detroit, San Antonio and Utah) with cap space. Harden, who will turn 35 on Aug. 26, played a big role in the Clippers having the second-best record in the NBA prior to Feb. 6. In 48 games prior to the All-Star break, Harden averaged 17.5 points, 8.4 assists and 2.5 turnovers. The turnovers were his fewest since the 2011-12 season in Oklahoma City. However, as the Clippers struggled down the stretch, so did Harden. In the last 16 games of the regular season, Harden averaged 12.7 points and shot 36% from the field. He averaged 26 points and 7 assists in the first four games of the first round, before a 2-for-12 from the field, 7-point and 0-assist dud in Game 5. It was his 13th career playoff game of shooting 20% or worse from the field while taking at least 10 shots, the most such games in the shot clock era. Considering that a return to Philadelphia or Oklahoma City is unlikely, Harden's options are limited. Both players could look at sign-and-trade options but that would require the cooperation of the Clippers. Extension candidate to watch: Including George, the Clippers have eight players eligible to sign an extension this offseason. Sixth man Norman Powell ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-point percentage during the regular season, shooting a career high 43.5% from deep. He has two years left ($19.2 and $20.5 million) and the Clippers can extend for an additional three seasons starting in 2026-27. Terance Mann averaged 9.9 points, shooting 58% from the field and 44% on 3-pointers after Jan. 1. He started a career-high 71 games and the Clippers had a net rating of plus-11.5 points per 100 possessions with the lineup of Mann, Harden, George, Leonard and Ivica Zubac. Mann is eligible to sign a four-year, $78.7 million extension. He has one year left on his contract and is an unrestricted free agent in 2025. Other extension candidates: Bones Hyland, Boston (through June 30), Zubac, Amir Coffey and Tucker. Team needs: Depth at power forward and center. A floor-spacer to limit double-teams on Leonard and George. Future draft assets: The George and Harden trades have left the Clippers thin with tradable first-round picks. They can trade their 2030 or 2031 first-round pick, but not both (they could also trade swap rights on those picks). The Thunder have the right to swap firsts in 2025 and 2027. They also have an unprotected Clippers first in 2026. LA will send an unprotected 2028 first to Philadelphia. The 76ers also have the right to swap firsts in 2029 (top-3 protected). The Clippers have two second-round picks available.
