Paul George of the Sixers has no reservations about the Clippers team

LOS ANGELES – As Paul George faced his old team for the first time in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers star said he harbored no hard feelings and reflected on how good his relationship with Steve Ballmer and Clippers management is be.

But that's why, George said, it was so surprising that he couldn't stay in the Clippers uniform when contract negotiations with the team didn't go as planned, resulting in the nine-time All-Star getting a foursome signed a one-year, $212 million contract in free agency with the Sixers.

“I think the relationship with Lawrence (Frank) and Steve Ballmer were somehow misinterpreted or the narrative wasn't written right,” George said before the Sixers had their morning shootaround at UCLA. “I mean, they were great the whole time I was here.

“That's kind of why it ended up being such a shocking decision. But they were great. The time here, I think it's kind of refreshing to be on the sidelines and have a partnership like that with a front office.” And I think that was probably the highlight of the whole thing (how great they were during my tenure here).

George said on his podcast that he initially would have taken the same three-year, $150 million extension that Kawhi Leonard received in January. But as negotiations dragged on, George postponed talks until after the season. He said that when the Clippers were ready to make him that offer, he wanted either a no-trade clause attached to it or an offer with a maximum term of four years.

Frank, the Clippers' general manager of basketball operations, wasn't willing to do that either, citing the team's ability to maintain a sustainable contender and the restrictions the new collective bargaining agreement places on tax-paying luxury teams in the secondary.

In the middle of last season, when the Clippers were atop the West standings after a 26-5 win and looked every bit like a title contender, it would have been hard to imagine George not returning.

Frank would have liked to see what Leonard, George and James Harden could accomplish with a full camp and season together, but the Clippers gave up money worries in the fourth year and George turned 37 in the fourth year. The Clippers wanted to maintain their flexibility and hopefully lure a star or two in free agency, similar to what they did in 2019 when they acquired Leonard and traded for George.

While Frank said the Clippers were willing to give Leonard and George three more years together, they ultimately moved after failing to honor George's request for a no-trade clause, hopefully filling the roster with younger and more defensively attractive players The aim of signing contracts is to remain competitive but also be able to act opportunistically if a star becomes available in the future.

Ballmer told ESPN he would have loved for George to stay, but he also believes the Clippers made the right move to remain competitive and be able to add another star in his prime in the future win.

“We were able to get three guys that play hard and play tough,” Ballmer told ESPN about the signings of Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Nico Batum. “And we still have the opportunity to continually improve. So it was the right choice for us.”

“Paul obviously thought it was the right choice for him. I'll miss him. Very good person. I like him a lot, except when they play against us. I wish him all the best, just not when they play against us. And he was a good clipper.

George said he understands the business decision by the Clippers, who will have a video tribute for him Wednesday night. He is looking forward to seeing all his friends and family.

George, who joined Leonard in Los Angeles to win a title in their hometown, helped the Clippers to their only Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history in 2021. But too many injuries to both players meant that the playoffs were no longer played in their five seasons together.

“I don't mean anything other than if we were all healthy, that's the only 'what if' we have,” George said. “If we can all stay healthy.”