The Los Angeles Clippers left the impression among rival teams that they are gauging the trade value of star Paul George in anticipation of the upcoming NBA Draft, according to NBA correspondent Marc Stein.
The Clippers are gauging the trade interest in Paul George 🤯
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 21, 2023
“League sources tell The Stein Line that the LA Clippers have left various rival teams with the impression through their Draft Week conversations that they are, at a minimum, attempting to gauge Paul George's trade… pic.twitter.com/g0nr2jPfEM
Sources described that the franchise is considering dismantling the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George tandem.
George arrived in Los Angeles through a trade with the Thunder, following the demand of then-free agent Kawhi Leonard to the team before joining the Clippers in the summer of 2019.
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Bad Luck Plagued Clippers During Leonard-George Era
Despite the team's blockbuster acquisitions during the summer of 2019, the team has yet to reach the NBA Finals.
During their first year, the team made the second round of the 2020 Playoffs. After taking a 3-1 series lead vs. Denver, the Clippers dropped the next three games despite holding double-digit leads in Games 5 and 6. Coach Doc Rivers was fired after the exit.
The team looked poised for a title run in 2021, but Leonard suffered a partial tear on his ACL in the second round. However, the team was still able to make the Western Conference Finals following George's efforts. Unfortunately, the Suns' firepower was too much for the depleted squad.
Leonard missed the 2021-22 season, and the Clippers failed to qualify for the playoffs after George contacted COVID-19 during the play-in tournament, which they lost twice.
The Suns eliminated the Clippers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, with George missing the postseason due to a knee sprain. Leonard appeared in the first two games and played well, but he sustained a torn meniscus which kept him out for the series.
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