Report: Clippers' Paul George declines option to become free agent

Nine-time All-Star Paul George is opting out of the $48.8 million option to play for the Los Angeles Clippers and will become a free agent for next season, ESPN reported Saturday.

George, 34, could be offered a four-year $221 million maximum contract from the Clippers, but the team reportedly is not looking to exceed more than the three-year, $152.4 million extension it gave to Kawhi Leonard during the past season.

ESPN reported that George plans to meet with teams with enough salary cap space to sign him as well as with the Clippers beginning Sunday night. If George had agreed to his player option, Los Angeles might have pursued a sign-and-trade strategy for the wing player.

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 74 games (all starts) -- the most games he has played in a regular season since 2018-19, his last campaign with Oklahoma City. He also shot career-bests from the floor (47.1 percent) and 3-point range (41.3 percent.

The Thunder traded George to the Clippers in July 2019 for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and the rights to seven first-round picks.

The Indiana Pacers selected him 10th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Fresno State. He has played for the Pacers (2010-17), Thunder (2017-19) and Clippers and averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 867 games (819 starts) over 14 seasons.

--Field Level Media