Depth: Why George Joined the 76ers? Clippers Unwilling to Offer a Leonard-like Deal, Warriors Reluctant to Part with Kuminga

In 2019, the NBA revised the start time of free agency to 6 PM Eastern Time on June 30th from midnight on July 1st, allowing teams and players more time for initial discussions before a good night’s sleep.

The intention was noble, but unforeseen circumstances can arise.

On a Sunday evening, Paul George invited the Philadelphia 76ers’ executives to his West Los Angeles home for a meeting at 8:30 PM, cutting short his vacation in Mexico. Executives like GM Elton Brand and Executive VP of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey arrived promptly. However, 76ers owners Josh Harris and Julius Erving were delayed due to weather issues.

George’s agent, Aaron Mintz, called to ask if he should wait.

“Of course,” George replied.

Await Dr. J… because this man might offer George a max contract that few players over 34 have ever received (Stephen Curry and LeBron James being the exceptions).

Both the 76ers’ front office and George had been waiting for this moment for a long while, almost two hours, until everyone arrived around 10:30 PM. George was wearing an Allen Iverson T-shirt.

This summer, the 76ers had been strategizing how to use their salary cap space to acquire a third superstar to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They postponed Maxey’s extension and hesitated to commit to James Harden’s promised deal last year for this purpose. They didn’t want anything to hinder their long-term championship aspirations around Embiid.

When building a championship roster around a franchise player like Embiid, executives often talk about a “championship window.” A short window usually lasts five years, during which complementary pieces must be assembled around the player in his prime. If lucky, another superstar could extend that window to a decade. If not, trade requests may come.

Entering the tenth year of their partnership with the 30-year-old Embiid, who has shown remarkable patience without any indication of wavering, the 76ers understand that his window won’t remain open forever.

This summer, whatever they did with their $60 million in cap space, the goal was to make the team championship-ready, not create another Harden- or Simmons-style drama.

Paul George was the top choice for the 76ers last year.

After James Harden publicly declared he would no longer play for the 76ers, Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank called a 76ers executive about a potential trade, but the request was for George. That was an unrealistic demand for the Clippers at the time, who had invested heavily in Leonard and George in 2019, only to face a series of unfortunate events each year: the pandemic in 2020, Leonard’s ACL tear affecting the 2021 playoffs and the following season, and George’s elbow and knee injuries in 2022 and 2023.

The Clippers didn’t see it as a problem with their approach; they just had bad luck. Plus, both Leonard and George were set to become free agents after the 2024 season, creating a sense of urgency for the Clippers.

They rolled the dice by acquiring the controversial James Harden from the 76ers. The Clippers believed he was still a talent and that head coach Tyronn Lue could bring out his best.

Initially, the gamble seemed to pay off. After a rocky start, Harden meshed with Leonard and George, propelling the team to an incredible 16-3 record leading up to the All-Star break. Leonard remained healthy and dominant, prompting the team to sign him to a new three-year, $150 million extension in mid-January.

However, it wasn’t the four-year, $221 million extension he could have gotten. Almost simultaneously, Leonard’s deal put pressure on George, who knew he’d likely have to settle for less in his negotiations.

Leonard and George had vaguely discussed new contracts and extending their partnership, but sources say they never delved into specifics, such as George potentially sacrificing $70 million over one year.

Moreover, sources reveal that the Clippers’ offer to George was below what they offered Leonard. Throughout the season, George’s relationship with Leonard remained strong. Sources say George even called Leonard this week to inform him of his consideration of other teams.

But George’s market was different from Leonard’s. He had the opportunity for a four-year max extension elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Clippers steadfastly offered a three-year deal below the max, disappointing George.

Negotiations reached an impasse and then broke down completely.

That’s when the Golden State Warriors entered the fray, seeking the biggest star available after missing the playoffs. Prior to George’s deadline to exercise his $48 million player option for next season, the Warriors made a concerted effort to trade for him. George reportedly wanted to join Curry in Golden State, while the Clippers sought valuable assets in return.

As the Clippers and Warriors intensified their talks, George agreed to extend the deadline for the team to decide on his contract guarantee. This move allowed George the chance to turn $30 million of his contract into partially or fully guaranteed money.

According to sources, the Warriors’ offer included expiring contracts, young players, and an unprotected 2027 first-round pick. The Clippers, however, demanded Jonathan Kuminga, something the Warriors were unwilling to part with. They viewed Kuminga as crucial to their future and feared that giving up too much for George might deter him from joining the Warriors.

Consequently, the discussions fell apart.

The new collective bargaining agreement has already reshaped the futures of the NBA’s wealthiest and most prominent franchises, both of which have paid $947 million in luxury taxes over the past four years.

Five years ago, George was at rapper Drake’s California home discussing how they could play together in their hometown with Leonard. After George called to congratulate Leonard on his second NBA championship and MVP, their relationship “started from there.” Leonard could have joined as a free agent, but George had to be traded from Oklahoma City. Somehow, their plan was secretive enough for the Thunder and Clippers to consummate a blockbuster trade that instantly made the Clippers title contenders.

But the perfect plan doesn’t always pan out. It’s a lesson the 76ers have learned through failed experiments and pain over the past five years.

Now, it’s George’s turn to help the 76ers and Embiid win, or for the 76ers to help George win, something he hasn’t achieved in Indiana, Oklahoma City, or Los Angeles.