Paul George and Clippers agree to contract extension

Wow. Paul George wasn’t kidding. The other day during media week, George said he wanted to retire a Clipper. It looks like he very well might do that.

On Thursday, ESPN reported that George and the Clippers had agreed to a contract extension worth... quite a bit of money, to say the least. George had a player option for the 2021-2022 season that will now be replaced with the four-year extension, which includes a new player option for the 2024-25 season

Well, the Clippers have locked down one of their superstars for the foreseeable future. Next offseason, both George and Kawhi Leonard were set to become free-agents. Now after locking George down, the Clippers will likely turn their attention to Leonard with the hopes of working out a deal with him.

Leonard, like George, wanted to return home and play in front of friends and family in Southern California. He wanted the Clippers to add George, and they did. Now, with the Clippers showing their commitment to keeping George in LA and building around him, hopefully Leonard will be next.

Here is a full and complete breakdown of the contract year-by-year.

Here is a statement from Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

“This is an important moment for our franchise and our fans, to secure a long-term commitment from one of the premier two-way players in the NBA. We aspire to create a destination for players, an environment where they can succeed and enjoy their success. We’re delighted by Paul’s pride in representing Clippers fans, honored that he trusts the organization with this chapter of his career, and share in his relentless pursuit of championships. We admire his talent, his dedication and his unwavering allegiance to this region. We’re excited for the opportunity to accomplish our mutual goals together.

Paul is one of the best and most versatile players in the league, and he has been for about a decade,” said Clippers head coach Ty Lue. “He can play on or off the ball. He can score in a variety of different ways. And he can guard almost every position on the court. His skill and leadership will be integral to everything we do for many years to come. I’m thrilled we can continue to build with PG.”

In addition, here is a statement from George.

“As a kid growing up in Southern California, I always dreamed of playing in Los Angeles, where my friends and family could come watch me play. I am so grateful to Steve Ballmer, Lawrence Frank, Coach Ty Lue, my teammates, and the entire Clippers organization for believing in me. I am proud to call this my home and look forward to doing my part in helping make the team a tremendous success – both on and off the court – in the years ahead.”