Knicks Nearly Acquired Paul George During Offseason, but One Condition Set Them Back

Paul George - Oklahoma City Thunder v New York Knicks
(Photo : Elsa/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Paul George (#13) of the Oklahoma City Thunder encourages his teammates from the bench in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2019 in New York City.

Los Angeles Clippers superstar Paul George was on the verge of joining the New York Knicks this offseason.

It was previously reported that the Clippers were gauging George's value ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft, and talks with the Knicks may have occurred during this period.

Radio host Alan Hahn mentioned that the Knicks could acquire the eight-time All-Star, but he wanted a lucrative extension with New York if the trade went down.

George signed a four-year, $190 million contract extension with the Clippers, which began in the 2021-22 season. He will enter the deal's third year in the upcoming season, and the fourth year would be a player option.

The 6-foot-9 forward is set to earn over $45 million in 2023-24 and nearly $49 million in 2024-25.

Read more: Trail Blazers Not Impressed With Miami Heat's Offer For Damian Lillard

Knicks felt Paul George was too expensive

The Clippers already gave the Knicks what it would cost to acquire Paul George, and the franchise seemed willing to pull the trigger.

The supposed trade involved the Knicks giving up RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, and three first-round picks for the 2019 All-NBA First Team selection, per Anita Marks.

Ultimately, the 33-year-old's demand for a contract extension may have been the deal breaker for New York.

Although one of the league's best players when healthy, George has missed significant time in his career due to injury, including this year's playoffs due to a knee sprain.

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