Could Paul George be the next NBA star to be traded? Damian Lillard’s trade market seems to be non-existent, with the longtime Portland Trail Blazers superstar reiterating his desire to try and build a contender.
NBA teams are always swarming in the offseason, trying to add top talent to their roster. That’s no different this summer, where we’ve already seen Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Marcus Smart swap teams.
But there are bound to be more moves on the way in a 30-team league that can’t help but tweak their rosters after coming up short in the race to the NBA Finals yet again. This group could even include the Los Angeles Clippers, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs back in April.
According to Howard Beck, PG13 is “certainly available” via trade this offseason. But that doesn’t mean the Clips are ready to sell low on the six-time All-NBA wing.
“They’re not trying to give him away, but they are trying to pivot, and they do have, I think, a franchise-wide frustration with the way that this era has gone.”
Howard Beck on potential Paul George trade via FnA podcast
An earlier report from SNY’s Ian Begley noted that the New York Knicks had registered interest in trading for the 33-year-old eight-time All-Star, and they have plenty of assets to offer with a combination of valued players and picks.
On the surface, it may seem unlikely that the Clippers would trade one of their two best players as they still seek to be a top contender, but George has the option to become a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season. This could create some urgency from L.A.’s front office, especially if they receive an offer too good to refuse.
Related: Top 2023 NBA free agents: Best 100 available with positional breakdowns