Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George is aiming to get a four-year contract this offseason, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

"Returning to the Clippers has long been regarded as George's preferred scenario, but L.A. is believed to this point to be offering a shorter deal along the lines of what it struck with Kawhi Leonard," he reported. "In January, without warning, it was announced that Leonard had signed a three-year extension with the Clippers in the $150 million range."

Stein reported Monday that "there is a growing feeling leaguewide that the 34-year-old picking up his $48.8 million player option for next season to force the Clippers to trade him is an increasingly realistic scenario."

Before the 2023-24 season tipped off, you would've bet the house on George staying on the Clippers long-term. They're moving into Intuit Dome next season, creating the need to maintain a title contender on the court. Team governor Steve Ballmer hasn't shied away from paying a premium on player salaries, either.

However, the structure of Leonard's deal signaled a subtle shift in how the organization is approaching the payroll, one likely necessitated by a far more restrictive collective bargaining agreement.

Ballmer simply can't write a blank check anymore because staying above the second apron in the luxury tax carries so many penalties.

That's setting the stage for pivotal negotiations with George, who will almost certainly get enticing offers elsewhere if the Clippers aren't prepared to meet his asking price.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Monday the Houston Rockets have shown some early interest. The nine-time All-Star has long been linked with the Philadelphia 76ers, who can create enough cap space to give him a max contract outright. Stein threw the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks into the mix as well.

The Clippers' misgivings on signing George for four years or more are understandable. He turned 34 in May and has consistently battled injuries for much of his tenure in Southern California. Los Angeles only has a solitary Western Conference Finals appearance to show for its grand experiment with George and Leonard so far.

But losing the 6'8" forward as a free agent would be a massive blow to the franchise's short-term title hopes.

As Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden approaches free agency this offseason, it sounds like he won't make a decision until he sees how things play out with another one of the team's stars.

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk said on Monday's episode of NBA Today that Harden's decision in free agency will be influenced by his teammate Paul George, who is eligible for an extension or can opt out of his deal to test the open market.

"With the domino of Paul George, one guy who's waiting to see what happens is James Harden," Youngmisuk said at the 2:05 mark. "He wants to see if Paul George remains, how many years Paul George gets, because he wants to align himself along with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George."

After the Clippers acquired Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers last fall, they were expected to be among the top contenders in the Western Conference. They won the Pacific Division with a 51-31 record but fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs in six games.

Part of the Clippers' downfall was the health of Leonard, as he appeared in just two playoff games due to a knee injury. Harden and George did their best to keep the team afloat, but it wasn't enough against the eventual Western Conference champions.

At this stage in his career, Harden is focused on chasing an elusive NBA championship. The Clippers would have a solid chance to contend for a title next season if they can keep the band together and stay healthy, but neither of those things is guaranteed.

If Harden chooses to depart Los Angeles, he could command interest on the open market from teams looking for a veteran who can run their offense.

There is reportedly a "growing feeling" around the league that Paul George will opt into his Los Angeles Clippers contract and force a trade this offseason, per NBA insider Marc Stein:

"There is a growing feeling leaguewide that the 34-year-old picking up his $48.8 million player option for next season to force the Clippers to trade him is an increasingly realistic scenario after months of fruitless contract extension negotiations between the parties.

"The Clippers appear unwilling to offer a richer deal to George than Kawhi Leonard received in January ($150 million-ish over three seasons) and that has encouraged teams out there to make trade pitches for the All-NBA swingman."

Stein also reported that "we very well could see" George opt into his contract to force a trade before the start of free agency on Sunday.

The 34-year-old can either pick up the $48.8 million for the 2024-25 season or opt out to test the free-agency market. He has until June 29 to make that decision.

Though we are still a little under a week away from the start of free agency, George has already been linked to a possible suitor. The New York Knicks are reportedly viewed as a team willing to trade for the veteran.

The No. 2 team in the East was a game away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this season and adding George would make them a force to be reckoned with next year.

The Knicks are clearly in win-now mode, so they might be willing to give up a handful of pieces to add another star to the roster.

And that could be favorable for the Clippers, whose future would be a bit uncertain if George wants out.

Los Angeles seemed to be a potential Finals contender last season but faced a first-round exit against the Dallas Mavericks, bringing up questions of how capable the current roster actually is.

The Clippers essentially have their Finals hopes sitting in the hands of aging stars, and one of those could be on their way out this offseason. If George isn't in L.A. next season, it could be time to transition to a rebuild.

Meanwhile, George is looking to add a championship to his resume before the end of his career. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the 2023-24 season.

The Los Angeles Clippers have had months to re-sign Paul George to a contract extension without making any progress.

Still, with less than two weeks remaining before free agency, they remain confident he'll remain with the franchise.

"What the Clippers' posture is, at least today, we're not at open free agency yet, but at least today, they are believing that Paul George is going to want to stay home in L.A. where his family is, where he's got roots, where he's wanted to be," ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Friday on First Take. "And that's what's going to be the rubber meets the road. We're going to see which way he's going to go. By the way, staying home in L.A. for three years at $150 million is hardly a consolation prize. But that is kind of where I think this is shaping up. The Clippers are like, 'Here's our offer, this is where your home is, stay here. If you want more money, then you got to go do it, then that's fine.' This is what they're doing right now."

The Clippers have seemingly drawn a line in the sand, refusing to pay George more than the three-year, $149.7 million contract they gave Kawhi Leonard in January. At the time of Leonard's extension, the thought process seemed pretty straightforward. Offer George the same amount, continue their trajectory together and move forward.

However, it seems like one of the two sides have balked at that type of arrangement. George could reasonably push for a full max contract given his recent injury history is cleaner than Leonard's.

A four-year maximum contract extension would be worth $221.1 million. It would not make sense for George to sign a five-year contract with the Clippers due to the NBA's over-38 rule, so the team's leverage is more limited than typical incumbents in trade talks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers have been often mentioned as potential suitors if George reaches the open market. However, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Sixers' interest in George has "significantly waned" as the free-agency period approaches.

George previously played two seasons with the Thunder from 2017 to 2019, but it would be a surprise to see him return to OKC given he pushed for a trade to Los Angeles five years ago.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George expressed his belief this week that some of the depth lost in the trade for James Harden came back to haunt L.A. during the 2023-24 season.

Speaking on his Podcast P, George suggested that losing "glue guys" like Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum and KJ Martin created issues with the roster as a whole:

"We lost RoCo. We lost Nico. Those were our glue guys. Like, that was our defenders. ... KJ Martin as well. That was our energy, our young legs. I think that's kind of where you get to late in the year and we just weren't as good as we could have been. I think losing those guys kind of hurt us. ...

"They would go get rebounds, they would block shots, they would rotate. They were defensive guys. ...They did a lot of the dirty work. ... Now myself, Kawhi [Leonard], we become the dirty guys and have to score too. And it was just a lot."

After starting the season 3-1, the Clippers traded for Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrušev on Nov. 1, sending Covington, Batum, Martin, Marcus Morris and draft picks to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Los Angeles went on a six-game losing streak after the Harden trade, but it righted the ship with stretches of nine wins in a row and 14 wins in 16 games from December into January.

The Clippers ended up finishing as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with a 51-31 record and there were high hopes entering the playoffs, however, they fell to the eventual Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks in six games in the first round.

A lack of quality role players may have contributed to the Clips' playoff shortcomings, although George made it clear that he wasn't blaming Harden, noting that "it's not James' fault," before praising Harden as "awesome" and one of the best passers and playmakers he ever played with.

George, Leonard and Harden formed one of the best and most talented trios in the NBA this past season, as George and Leonard were both All-Stars, while Harden averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 assists per contest.

However, the trade diminished Russell Westbrook's role significantly, and it forced players like Terance Mann, Amir Coffey and Daniel Theis into far bigger roles to replace the likes of Covington, Batum and Martin.

Even with the those glue guys in the fold, the Sixers suffered the same fate as the Clippers, as they fell in the first round of the playoffs in six games to the New York Knicks.

As for the Clippers, big changes could be coming to their roster this offseason, as Harden is set to hit free agency and George can become a free agent if he declines his player option.

The acquisition of Harden was clearly a win-now move made in an effort to capitalize on elite talent before they were past their prime, but it is fair to wonder if the Clippers' championship window is now closed for the foreseeable future.

Jeff Van Gundy is returning to the NBA coaching ranks.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the 62-year-old agreed to a deal making him the lead assistant for Ty Lue on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Van Gundy last coached in 2006-07 with the Houston Rockets. In 11 seasons between his time in Houston and with the New York Knicks, he had a .575 winning percentage and made the playoffs nine times.

Following his ouster from the Rockets, Van Gundy pivoted to a broadcasting career. He worked for ESPN for 16 years, rising to become a lead analyst on NBA games. The network let him go in June 2023 amid wider layoffs.

During his hiatus from NBA coaching, Van Gundy led the United States men's national team at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, where Team USA won gold, and then stayed on to help the U.S. secure qualification for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Van Gundy coached Lue briefly on the Rockets in 2004-05 and they have crossed paths through the national team. Lue is an assistant on Steve Kerr's staff, and JVG stayed on as a scout once his coaching tenure came to an end.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on June 2 the Boston Celtics was considering Van Gundy as a candidate to replace the outgoing Charles Lee as an assistant to Joe Mazzulla. He worked in Boston's basketball operations department this season, so it would've been a seamless transition to have him fill the void left by Lee, who accepted the Charlotte Hornets' coaching vacancy.

Stein followed up last Friday to report the Clippers were believed to be leading the race for Van Gundy's services. Beyond his past experience with Lue, he reportedly had a "huge admirer" in L.A. president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard turned heads when he appeared to be sporting a new haircut over the weekend, but it now appears that he didn't get rid of his usual locs.

A picture of Leonard at Saturday's boxing event headlined by Gervonta Davis defending his WBA lightweight title against Frank Martin drew some attention because it appeared that the 32-year-old was rocking a shorter hairstyle:

However, pictures surfaced on social media on Monday that showed Leonard's braids were still intact:

Leonard's hair has been braided since he entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2011 draft by the San Antonio Spurs, so it would've been a massive surprise to see him with a shorter hairdo.

However, it looks like fans don't need to worry about seeing a new-look Leonard next season.

The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly eyeing former NBA coach and current Boston Celtics special adviser Jeff Van Gundy to join their staff, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

According to Stein, the Clippers are looking to bring Van Gundy on as an assistant under head coach Tyronn Lue.

"League sources tell The Stein Line that the LA Clippers have strong interest in hiring Celtics special adviser Jeff Van Gundy as a high-profile addition to Tyronn Lue's coaching staff for next season and a strong chance at succeeding in that pursuit after the NBA Finals are complete," Stein wrote.

Van Gundy has not coached in the NBA since his final season with the Houston Rockets in 2007, though he was the head coach of the U.S. men's national team at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup tournament and in the qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

After more than a decade as a color commentator for ESPN, Van Gundy was let go by the network in 2023, joining the Celtics' staff a few months later. Before joining Boston, he turned down a position to join the Dallas Mavericks' coaching staff under Jason Kidd.

Stein recently reported that the Celtics are expected to discuss moving Van Gundy onto Joe Mazzulla's coaching staff when assistant Charles Lee departs to take over as the Charlotte Hornets head coach at the end of the season, so the veteran coach could have multiple options this offseason.

Stein did note that the Clippers' job is "most likely to pull" Van Gundy back onto a coaching staff, but perhaps a Celtics' championship would be motivation for him to remain in Boston.

For now, Van Gundy will look to finish the job with the Celtics' who are just one game away from their 18th NBA championship after taking a 3-0 lead over the Mavericks on Wednesday.

It turns out the allure of playing Doc Rivers in a television series about the Los Angeles Clippers didn't mean too much to Laurence Fishburne.

Appearing on Tuesday's episode of The Dan Patrick Show, the actor revealed he had no idea who Rivers was when he was offered the role on the FX on Hulu miniseries Clipped.

Fishburne's explanation that he's not a sports fan does take away some of the sting. It would be different if he watched basketball and had somehow never come across Rivers' name, either as a player or head coach.

Even though Fishburne isn't a fan of sports, this isn't his first foray into the world of basketball. He served as the narrator for the 2000 IMAX documentary Michael Jordan to the Max about the life and career of the basketball icon.

The documentary featured appearances from several NBA players and coaches, but Rivers is not among those listed on IMDB.

If you are someone who classifies Searching for Bobby Fischer as a sports movie, Fishburne co-stars in the 1993 drama as the mentor to young chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin.

Fishburne is portraying Rivers on the miniseries that chronicles the real-life story about the fallout of a leaked recording featuring former Clippers governor Donald Sterling making racist comments to his mistress V. Stiviano.

The tape was leaked in April 2014 when Rivers and the Clippers were in the midst of a first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.

There was speculation that the Clippers could boycott postseason games, but instead, the players organized a protest by wearing their warm-up gear inside out and tossing their team jackets in a pile in the middle of the court before Game 5.

Rivers was in his first season as head coach of the team when the situation occurred. He would go on to coach the Clippers for seven seasons before stepping down in September 2020.