Now that Los Angeles is prior to now and his future is about in Philadelphia, Paul George can converse freely about what saved him from remaining a Clippers star. Based on the veteran, he by no means wished to depart from California, however now revealed that the negotiations to increase him have been surprisingly “disrespectful” and onerous to digest.
The ahead signed a four-year, $212 million max free agent contact with the Sixers, however admitted in his personal podcast that he was keen to stick with his former workforce with the identical three-year, $150-million extension they gave Kawhi Leonard.
“I by no means wished to go away L.A.,” George mentioned on his present. “L.A. is residence, that is the place I wished to complete at, and I wished to work as onerous as doable to win one in L.A. That was the purpose, to be right here and be dedicated to L.A. Because it performed out although, the primary preliminary deal was I believed form of disrespectful.”
Paul George particulars his contract negotiations with the Clippers:
• LA’s first provide was 2 12 months / $60M
• He requested for a similar contract as Kawhi in the course of the season
• Requested for 3 12 months / $150M with a NTC after the season
• Remaining ask: 4 years/$220Mpic.twitter.com/JqcSAkDxqX
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Paul even allow us to in on what the Clippers entrance workplace supplied him. “In all of this, no onerous emotions, no love misplaced … it’s a enterprise. So the primary preliminary deal was like two years, 60. So I’m like, whoa, whoa, whoa,” he mentioned. “That’s loopy! I’m like, ‘Naw, I’m not signing that.’”
Nevertheless, even earlier than the All-Star inked his new cope with the 76ers firstly of free company, the L.A. membership mentioned in a press release that “the hole was vital” in talks to maintain the athlete, as they needed to be aware of the brand new collective bargaining settlement.
“Heading into this offseason, our roster was constructed [with] three nice gamers 33 and over, two of whom may turn into free brokers,” the Clippers talked about of negotiating with Leonard, George and James Harden, who lastly did conform to a two-year, $70 million free agent deal to remain in California.
“We wished to retain them on contracts that might enable us, below the constraints of the brand new CBA, to proceed constructing the workforce. We negotiated for months with Paul and his consultant on a contract that might make sense for each side, and we have been left far aside. The hole was vital,” it reads.
The All-Star veteran determined to honor his idol Kobe Bryant by selecting No. 8 jersey in Philadelphia
After seeing Paul George flashing his new 76ers jersey this weekend, we actually can’t inform a lot of a distinction as his former membership makes use of the identical blue-and-red variations. Nevertheless, what we couldn’t preserve our eyes off was the truth that the previous Clippers star selected the No. 8 for subsequent season, as a tribute to his idol Kobe Bryant.
Which means that for the primary time since 2015, Paul received’t be sporting his ordinary quantity 13. This additionally doesn’t imply that the veteran didn’t ask for his conventional jersey quantity, however he discovered it as been retired for a very long time to recollect legendary large man Wilt Chamberlain.
The 34-year-old then recalled that the “Black Mamba” was born in Philadelphia and began his pre-professional profession at Decrease Merion Excessive Faculty earlier than being picked by the Los Angeles Lakers within the 90s.
As George recalled, Kobe used the No. 8 shirt throughout his first decade in California. “I needed to do it. C’mon man, I’m in Philly.” he mentioned on his podcast this weekend. “My method of idolizing Kobe.”
