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Subsequent yr must be an thrilling time for the Clippers, particularly as they’re set to start out the next marketing campaign taking part in at their new dwelling, the Intuit Dome. Regardless of being eradicated within the playoffs’ first spherical, they confirmed many moments of brilliance all through the season and hope to maintain their roster core intact.
The workforce’s president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank assured that they’re already working in the direction of retaining stars Paul George and James Harden, as they anticipate to maintain them near Kawhi Leonard, and construct a workforce round them.
Whereas George has a participant choice on $48.8 million due subsequent yr and will turn into a free agent, Harden is about to be an unrestricted free agent. Experiences recommend that the purpose guard is ready to see what occurs together with his star teammate earlier than deciding on his future in Los Angeles.
Paul George on what the Clippers did improper:
“You tried to play hero ball, you tried to be the scorer and be dominant. However you fail to appreciate generally you bought to take what the protection provides you.”
— Sai (@LeGoatedOne) May 9, 2024
“We’d like to have the ability to deliver again and retain Paul and James,” Frank stated this week. “We’re hopeful we are able to, but additionally perceive and respect the truth that they’re free brokers. Paul has a call together with his choice. James will probably be an unrestricted free agent, so our intent is to deliver him again, but additionally understand that they’re elite gamers and so they’ll have selections.”
Simply because the workforce had been eradicated in Recreation 6 by the Mavericks, Paul was consulted about his future with the Clippers. “Yeah,” he stated about constructing a workforce with James and Kawhi. “If it really works that approach, completely.”
The veteran participated in 74 regular-season video games this marketing campaign, that are essentially the most he’s each competed in his 5 years in California. “We would like Paul, we worth Paul,” Frank stated. “Paul’s finished some super issues right here. He’s an elite participant, and our greatest factor is we at all times need to have the ability to deal with gamers nicely and pay them pretty, and we additionally need to construct out a workforce, particularly, it is a new CBA.”
“However by way of the precise cash, I might by no means go into particulars aside from we’ve had actually, actually good conversations over the course of the yr and hopeful that we are able to get him to stay a Clipper,” the chief stated concerning the athlete who posted averages of twenty-two.6 factors, 5.2 rebounds and a career-high 41.3% from past the arc.
The Clippers entrance workplace believes this squad can win the NBA title if they continue to be wholesome subsequent season
One of the vital disappointing moments of this previous season got here when Kawhi Leonard fell to harm on his proper knee, proscribing him solely to 68 video games all through the marketing campaign. The workforce is determining one of the best ways to handle his state of affairs, contemplating he’s undergone surgical procedures for a torn ACL and meniscus since 2021.
“We’re nonetheless coping with the irritation,” Frank defined. “The encouraging factor is that this appears large image minor in nature in that it’s not a structural factor. The fact is that we’re going to proceed to attempt to study and how one can handle his proper knee. He’s had two surgical procedures on his knee, however he’s proven that he might be sturdy.”
The president of basketball operations ensures that they’re working exhausting to forestall this from taking place subsequent yr, because the group is satisfied that they will contend for subsequent season’s trophy if they’re able to stay wholesome.
“I perceive the skepticism of that is one other yr the place you haven’t had the group [healthy],” Lawrence assured. “However I might guard towards the cynicism. Simply because it’s occurred [again] doesn’t imply it’s at all times going to occur subsequent yr.”
