Clippers Reportedly Committed to Paul George Despite Doubts

A few questions were raised about All-Star forward Paul George and his future with the Los Angeles Clippers after they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs last season.

George wasn't terrible, but he wasn't great either. People have started to wonder if he's a fit next to Kawhi Leonard and whether he really is the big-time playoff performer he claims to be.

But the Clippers don't seem to see things that way. Just the opposite actually. They may actually want to keep him.

"The Clippers remain fully committed to George as part of their program," Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote, citing sources.

George and Leonard are both eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Leonard chose the Clippers in free agency because the Clippers knew they could land George in a 2019 trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. So Leonard is among those who supposedly want George to stay.

But a lot about the Clippers remains to be seen. They promoted former assistant coach Tyronn Lue to be the new head coach, following the departure of Doc Rivers. Lue coached the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers to a championship in 2016. He may be the new voice the Clippers need.

But if things start slowly, or the Clippers again fail to meet expectations, you can be sure they will explore moving George, regardless of how committed they are to him today.