$110 Million for Three Years? The Inside Story of Paul George's Departure: This Time, You Can't Blame Him

Paul George's move to the Philadelphia 76ers has been one of the most talked-about topics in the NBA offseason. After signing a four-year, $212 million max contract with the Sixers, George opened up on his personal podcast about the details of his contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Clippers. He expressed his initial desire to stay in his hometown of Los Angeles and win a championship with the Clippers. However, he felt disrespected by the initial offer from the Clippers, which was only a two-year, $60 million deal.

When George first made this revelation, many were skeptical, questioning if he was exaggerating or even lying. After all, considering George's performance over the past few years, offering him just a two-year contract with an annual salary of $30 million seemed insulting. For comparison, Immanuel Quickley re-signed with the Toronto Raptors this summer for five years at $175 million, averaging $35 million per year.

Recently, Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank confirmed George's account in an interview. Frank stated, "But George forgot one number: he had to exercise his $50 million player option first, and then it would be $60 million, making it $110 million over three years."

Between a three-year, $110 million deal and a four-year, $212 million max contract, it's clear which one anyone would choose. George also discussed the subsequent negotiations on his podcast. As the talks progressed, the Clippers gradually increased their offer, but George remained unsatisfied. When Kawhi Leonard re-signed for three years at $150 million, George asked for a similar contract but was turned down by the Clippers.

Eventually, the Clippers were willing to offer the three-year, $150 million contract, but George then requested a no-trade clause, which the Clippers refused. Finally, George's demand was for a four-year, $212 million (up to $221 million) contract without a no-trade clause, but the Clippers once again rejected it. Disheartened, George decided to leave and join the 76ers.

Compared to the Clippers' repeated rejections, the 76ers showed much more straightforwardness and sincerity. They initially offered George a four-year, $212 million max contract. During the recruitment process, Sixers owner John Harris personally got involved, and NBA legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving also supported the move. Ultimately, they succeeded in bringing the nine-time All-Star to Philadelphia.

Some might argue that a 34-year-old George isn't worth a four-year, $212 million contract. This perspective isn't entirely off base unless George maintains his fitness and performance like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Kevin Durant. Otherwise, three years down the line, paying a 37-year-old George $56.6 million annually seems excessive.

However, this assessment mainly applies to the Clippers and most other teams. For the 76ers, who are in urgent need of immediate success, the short-term benefits outweigh the long-term risks. The Sixers have made the playoffs in recent years but have never reached the Eastern Conference Finals. If they don't achieve significant results soon, even their star center, Joel Embiid, might request a trade.

Looking at George's performance last season, he remained an All-Star, averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from three, and 90.7% from the free-throw line, nearly joining the "180 Club" with a true shooting percentage of 61.3%. George continues to be an effective two-way player, a rarity in today's NBA. Adding him to a core with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, the 76ers might not guarantee a win over the Boston Celtics, but they can certainly pose a significant challenge.

As for the Clippers, it's worth considering that they had a chance to retain George. If they had offered him a contract similar to Leonard's from the beginning, George likely would have accepted. The initial two-year, $60 million offer was too damaging, leaving anyone in George's position feeling disrespected.

The loss of George is a heavy blow for the Clippers. They watched as George left as a free agent and could only patch up their roster by signing Derrick Jones Jr. and Nic Batum. However, these players cannot replace George's impact. Even combined, they fall short of filling the void left by George.

Time is also running out for this Clippers team. According to Frank, the Clippers need to keep their salary below the second luxury tax threshold for the 2025-26 season and maximize cap space for the 2026-27 season. This means that next season's roster might be their best over the next three years. By 2026, James Harden and Leonard will be free agents, and if no significant progress is made by then, the Clippers might face a complete rebuild.

On one side, the Clippers are preparing to cut costs, potentially facing a rebuild with an aging core. On the other side, the 76ers have the reigning scoring champion and MVP in Embiid, a young rising star in Maxey, and are seen as one of the most successful teams in this summer's roster shuffle. Adding the differences in salary offers and overall sincerity, it's understandable why George decided to leave the Clippers.

In summary, George made the most beneficial decision for his career by joining the 76ers. This new chapter in his career in Philadelphia is filled with hope and promise. Let's hope this time, things turn out differently for him.