Paul George, right, declined a $48.8 million option with the Clippers and informed the team on Sunday that he plans to sign elsewhere. Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
Paul George is leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, his now-former team announced Sunday night, with all signs pointing to the nine-time All-Star perhaps returning to the Eastern Conference and joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
George could command more than $200 million over four years if his next contract is for max value.
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers said in a release Sunday night.
The team added, “We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”
George had a $48.8 million option for this coming season but did not exercise it, entering free agency – which opened Sunday night. It was believed there was a chance that George and the Clippers could have still gotten something done, but the team made clear that those hopes are gone.
“We will miss Paul,” the Clippers said.
At 34, George is still elite, averaging 22.6 points this past season – the ninth consecutive season in which he has averaged at least 20 points.
Meanwhile, James Harden is staying with the Clippers on a two-year contract that includes a player option, a person with knowledge of that decision told The Associated Press.
Harden’s deal – which could be worth up to $70 million if he opts into 2025-26 – was agreed upon in principle before free agency technically started.
Changes to league rules this year allowed for such agreements to be in place before the 6 p.m. start to free agency on Sunday. Teams, in most cases, were allowed to speak to their own free agents or extension-eligible players once the NBA Finals were completed.
In other moves Sunday:
• Veteran guard Chris Paul is going to San Antonio on a one-year deal. Paul was waived by the Golden State Warriors, who would have had to pay him $30 million for the coming season. ESPN reported that the Spurs will pay Paul around $11 million.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is going to bring his championship experience to the Orlando Magic, a team that made a big jump this past season and now is trying to become an even stronger contender in the Eastern Conference.
Caldwell-Pope – a guard who has won NBA titles with the Lakers and Nuggets – was finalizing a three-year, $66 million deal.
• Kevin Love was completing a new contract with the Miami Heat, a person with knowledge of that deal told AP, the move coming one day after he did not opt into what would have been a $4 million contract for this coming season. Love had said repeatedly last season that he has no intentions of leaving Miami.
• Andre Drummond reportedly agreed to a two-year contract to join one of his previous teams, the Philadelphia 76ers. Drummond spent the last two seasons in Chicago.
• Obi Toppin is being rewarded nicely for his strong first season with Indiana. A person with knowledge of the agreement said he and the Pacers were finalizing a four-year deal worth nearly $60 million. Toppin averaged a career-best 10.3 points last season, his first with Indiana after three years in New York.
• Promising wing Max Christie is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers with a four-year, $32 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told AP. The 21-year-old Christie has averaged 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists during his first two NBA seasons.
• The NBA set the salary cap at $140.588 million for the 2024-25 season, down slightly – about $400,000 – from what teams had been told to expect. The tax level was set at $170.814 million, the first apron level will be $178.132 million, the second apron level will be $188.931 million, the non-taxpayer mid-level is $12.822 million, the taxpayer mid-level is $5.168 million, and the room mid-level is $7.983 million.
PISTONS: Detroit agreed to a four-year contract with J.B. Bickerstaff to become the team’s head coach, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The Cleveland Cavaliers fired Bickerstaff in May after they lost to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals despite them winning 99 games over two years.
Bickerstaff replaces Monty Williams, who was fired just one season into a six-year, $78.5 million contract after Detroit had the NBA’s worst record for a second straight year.
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