Paul George said he wanted to be a Clipper for the rest of his career. He may have just gotten his wish on Thursday.
Despite him just had one of the roughest postseasons of his career last season with his play in the NBA bubble, the Clippers made it clear they still believe in him.
George signed a four year, $190 million extension that will keep him with the Clippers until, at the very least, the 2024 season, according to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. So, basically, if he plays this deal out, he’ll have a chance to retire a Clipper.
The Clippers are extending George’s contract for an additional four years, $190M on top of the $35.4M guaranteed him in the 2020-2021 season. George will have a new player option before the 2024-2025 season, Mintz said. https://t.co/3zrOc53WFT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 10, 2020
George could’ve potentially entered free agency next season with a player option in the final year of his deal. This extension wipes that away.
And it’s a lot of money. George will make nearly $50 million in the last year of the deal.
Paul George- extension based on a projected $112M cap in 2021/22
2021/22 $39,344,970
2022/23 $42,492,568
2023/24 $45,640,165
2024/25 $48,787,763
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 10, 2020
This was surprising news, to say the least, after this postseason for the Clippers where they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets. Yes, he had a subpar playoff showing. But facts are still facts and George is still an All-Star with an All-NBA pedigree. He’s one of the NBA’s best defenders and he’s still a versatile player offensively.
It makes sense to lock him up long term. Especially when it means that he doesn’t have to worry about his contract and can now just focus on gelling with the rest of the Clippers.
Still, though, after his postseason, NBA fans from all over were mostly confused. It got so bad that “Pandemic P” trended on Twitter after the news broke.
Some fans think he’s totally worth the ticket. Others? Not so much.
paul george getting an extension for shooting a 3 off the side of the backboard and lying constantly in interviews is an inspirational story for people who fail upwards
— Sean Yoo (@SeanYoo) December 10, 2020
Maxing out Paul George after the bubble performance ?? pic.twitter.com/BsIN2oVWac
— Ahmed🇸🇴/Official A&R for OVO Records (@big_business_) December 10, 2020
#PaulGeorge ROBBED the #Clippers 😁 pic.twitter.com/Bdgn1h8loo
— Clarence Jones (@_ClarenceJones) December 10, 2020
Paul George’s agent after scamming the Clippers #pandemicp pic.twitter.com/DnrKhs5maO
— justin (@Jgang__) December 10, 2020
Paul George strong arming the Clippers is just fantastic, I tell you.
— Ry (@JustRyCole) December 10, 2020
Paul George just finessed the clippers
— Dan (@Daniel_Barnes14) December 10, 2020
Paul George just got what !!?!!?
— 🇪🇸 ℕ𝕚𝕔𝕜 😤 (@NickLLee24) December 10, 2020
Paul George negotiations: 🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/p2dK3OnVU1
— Terrence Willis (@iamtwillis) December 10, 2020
George is still a very good player, though. Some people still acknowledged that.
Paul George shot 38% from 3 in that series on 8 attempts a game. https://t.co/LO4HUNyx2o
— Dave DuFour (@DaveDuFourNBA) December 10, 2020
I really need him to remind people how good he is. The “Pandemic P” jokes were funny but people are trippin.
— Axel Foley🏁 (@ToniMartaz) December 10, 2020
Paul George based on the market and other super Max players he deserves that max. The man was 3 Rd in MVP voting and a top defender again y'all being emotional
— Ricky G (@jrichardgoodman) December 10, 2020
1) Paul George is a REALLY good player
2) I would not want to be paying The Fisherman that much money heading into the late stages of his career.. but I guess they almost had to? https://t.co/Em7jmyEKqT
— Stan Bol Bol, Neeko, Chris Paul, and Vegan Queens (@mathieuvirtuoso) December 10, 2020
Others? They just like to watch the world burn.
What if the Paul George contract just helps LAC match salary for a harden deal
— Jack M (@VinnyBidatze) December 10, 2020
We’ll see how things turn out.
