The start of free agency (officially) is just a few hours away and Paul George is front and center. You know what we could use right now?
A new episode of his show “Podcast P”
Unfortunately, no new content has appeared on his feed in six days. And while “Untold Stories of the Lob City Clippers” is certainly a fascinating topic, it’s not the most relevant one at the moment.
To really know how the next few days will go, you would have to put a microphone in George’s face and convince him to answer the questions that are so crucial to his decision.
Does he really have an interest in playing in Philadelphia, or is the decision to pursue the Sixers option simply a way to gain an advantage over the Clippers while still seeking a full four-year, max-compensation contract?
As a reminder, the Palmdale, California native is widely known for enjoying living in his home region with his family, and league sources say his relationship with the Clippers remains good despite the contract dispute. Those two factors alone mean the Clippers shouldn’t be written off here.
And what does George really think about Orlando having the interest and cap space to make basketball magical with the 34-year-old? George raved about Orlando’s Paolo Banchero on a recent podcast, then fired up the team’s fan base when he added, “You have to surround (Banchero) with shooters.”
All of this has implications beyond George, of course, as all teams involved want to have clarity on his situation before moving on to the next best option. Enter Klay Thompson.
It’s honestly surreal that the Golden State legend’s time with the Warriors is coming to an end this way — but not all that surprising. As I reported in late February, Thompson’s relationship with Warriors owner Joe Lacob was strained for most of last season.
It’s clear that Thompson, who watched the Warriors give Draymond Green a four-year, $100 million deal last summer for which he received only about half that amount in his extension offer, felt disrespected by the way his situation was handled. Lacob downplayed Thompson’s dissatisfaction when I asked him about it at the time, insisting that things were good between the two, but events that have unfolded since then only confirm the strained situation on that front.
Now Thompson may have to wait until George makes a decision here so he can get a clear picture of his market. The Sixers famously view Thompson as a possible option if they don’t get George, and the same goes for the Clippers.
Thompson, a “shooter” if there ever was one in this game, is also expected to be in action for Orlando (though rumors linking Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Magic are pretty loud). The Mavericks and Lakers, meanwhile, are top options for Thompson, which could allow him to make his choice regardless of the dynamic surrounding George.
If only we had Podcast P on the line to tell us how this all ends.
