Durant: Warriors not to blame for Achilles injury

Paul George is declining his $48.7 million player option for the 24-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers to become a free agent. With his decision to become an unrestricted free agent, George will not be able to join a team without cap space such as the Golden State Warriors.

George is expected to receive interest from the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, who each have enough cap space to sign him to a his 35 percent max. George is planning on meeting with rival teams and the Clippers beginning on Sunday night.

The Clippers are reportedly only offering George a three-year contract, while he is seeing a four-year deal. Rival teams can offer him a four-year max contract worth up to $212 million. The Clippers can offer a four-year deal worth up to $221 million and can also include a no-trade clause. Paul is ineligible for a five-year contract due to the Over 38 rule.

The Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $152 million extension in January and have hoped to sign George to a similar deal in order to stay under the second apron. While the Clippers would like to retain George, they may be unwilling to offer a deal at a number that will take them above the second apron of $189.5 million.

George has been strongly linked with an opt-in-and-trade to the Warriors in recent days, especially with his believed preference to remain on the West Coast. This scenario was always unlikely as it would have required significant players and draft capital being sent by the Warriors to the Clippers in return.

George joined the Clippers in 2019 in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder involving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, four unprotected picks and two pick swaps. George has been an All-Star in three of the past four seasons. In 23-24, George played in 74 games and averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 41.3 percent on three-pointers.

George is represented by Aaron Mintz.