The difficulty Mavericks are currently confronting seems to be realizing what they truly want out of life. The Dallas Mavericks should investigate what it would take to combine Paul George with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving if the Los Angeles Clippers are prepared to let him go.
The NBA Draft begins in less than 48 hours, and anticipation is growing throughout the league because of a few potential transactions. On Sunday, the Phoenix Suns struck a deal with the Washington Wizards to acquire star shooting guard Bradley Beal, and the fun officially began.
Clippers appear to be evaluating Paul George’s trade interest
According to sources cited in a recent article by NBA insider Marc Stein, the LA Clippers are evaluating the trade value of Paul George and are considering splitting up the team that consists of him and Kawhi Leonard.
“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 value and, to hear some describe it, giving real consideration to the idea of disassembling the Kawhi Leonard/George tandem,” Stein wrote.
The Clippers are gauging the trade interest in Paul George 🤯
“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
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 21, 2023
The Clippers have publicly stated their desire to continue focusing on Leonard and George this summer, so this news comes as a bit of a shock. Yet, given that this is the same company that dealt Blake Griffin in an unexpected move, it is impossible to know for sure what their genuine intentions are.
While the Clippers assessing interest in George in trades around the league does not necessarily mean they intend to sell him, it does show some level of receptivity to the idea of splitting him and Leonard, as Stein noted. Thursday is the NBA Draft, so it seems logical to presume that any potential George trade would include a top pick.
Two highly potential destinations for Paul George
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Houston Rockets pulled off a stunning trade with the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday to acquire Chris Paul, and they apparently haven’t given up on other talents.
Stephen A. Smith hinted on SportsCenter shortly after the blockbuster’s announcement that the Rockets might be the front-runners to sign Carmelo Anthony if he manages to negotiate a buyout with the New York Knicks.
The Rockets will need to gather sufficient assets or enlist the help of a third team to acquire Paul George in a deal that placates the Indiana Pacers. Yet if the Portland Trail Blazers succeed and claim the Victor Wembanyama prize, their approach to team development no doubt would radically alter. But right now, Damian Lillard needs a running partner on the squad if they want to win games.
One of the top guards/forwards in the league when healthy, George may benefit the team both offensively and defensively. Jusuf Nurcic, Anfernee Simons, and a future first-round selection would go to the Clippers in this deal. Getting selections back into the door would be excellent because the Clippers’ draught capital coffers are pretty empty following the original Paul George trade.
And if that selection is somewhat out in the distance, it might be a post-George and Lillard selection with a good chance of being high. Even if the Blazers do sign Wembanyama, their new superstar’s career might get off to a happy start with the Blazers and keep him in the Pacific Northwest for a very long time if he plays with Paul George and Lillard.
The outcome of these trade rumors and their impact on the teams involved will likely depend on various factors, such as the willingness of other teams to make suitable offers and the Clippers’ ultimate decision regarding the future of their roster.
