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[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Clippers have officially ended their pursuit of Paul George.
On Saturday, George entered free agency after declining his $48.7 million option with the Clippers, signaling an imminent departure.
In a statement on Sunday, the Clippers announced that the 9-time All-Star informed the front office of his intention to sign with another team. “Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team. Paul is a tremendous talent and an elite two-way player. We feel fortunate for the five years we spent with him. … We will miss Paul. At the same time, we’re excited by the opportunities we’ve now been afforded, including greater flexibility under the new CBA.”
The Clippers stated they had negotiated with George and his agent for months but were “left far apart” on a potential contract. They decided not to pursue a sign-and-trade, opting instead for salary cap savings.
Acquired in a massive trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, George averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game with three All-Star selections during his five seasons with the Clippers.