Clippers Rumors: Paul George, James Harden Contracts Are LA's Goal in NBA FA

The Los Angeles Clippers already signed Kawhi Leonard to an extension, but they also want to keep its big three together by retaining impending free agents Paul George and James Harden as well, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:

"The Clippers have been without All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard for most of the series with right knee inflammation, but the organization's goal remains to re-sign free agents Paul George and James Harden alongside of Leonard, sources said."

The Clips also want to sign head coach Tyronn Lue, who has one season left on his contract, to a long-term extension.

L.A. has already signed Leonard to a three-year, $153 million extension through 2026-27. Harden is an unrestricted free agent. George has a 2024-25 player option for $48.8 million but can decline it to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Clippers earned the Western Conference's No. 4 seed after going 51-31. They go into Friday facing a 3-2 deficit in their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, who will host Game 6.

L.A. has been building its team around Leonard and George ever since the team landed the duo in the summer of 2019. The Clippers have mostly fared well since then, notably reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2021. L.A. also made the playoffs in four of its five years with both men aboard.

Unfortunately, injuries have beset both players, sometimes for long stretches. Leonard notably missed all of 2021-22 with a partially torn ACL. That was the only year the Clippers missed the playoffs since 2019. Leonard is also out right now during the Mavs' playoff series due to right knee inflammation.

When the Clippers' big three is healthy, the team has thrived at times this year and looked like the Western Conference's best squad. Although L.A. is on the brink of elimination right now, bringing all three players back makes sense given the investments the team has made in the trio plus the potential of brighter days if they stay healthy.

Plus, the Clippers probably aren't interested in losing Harden and George (and getting worse as well) with the team opening the brand-new Intuit Dome next year. So it won't be a surprise to see Harden and George stay aboard for 2024-25 and beyond. For now, the Clippers are focused on tying their first-round series to start and perhaps winning it too.