Paul George's Dismal Contract Might Land The Clippers James Harden

After the news that the Clippers and forward Paul George had agreed to a 5-year, $226 million extension, Pandemic P made the most tone-deaf statement ever. And considering some of his comments in the past, this is saying something.

George was asked on the "All The Smoke" podcast, hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, if he was ready to bounce back in 2021.

*Checks Wikipedia for NBA MVPs

In 2017, George was in the thick of the MVP race after the All-Star break, but that's the closest he's ever come to an "MVP self." If Paul George has literally never won MVP, why would he bother with this comment? PG13 should really stick to gloating about the player he's actually been, and not the player he wants to be.

Paul George is now in line to collect over $45 million a year until 2025, which may be a reach for the Clippers. Or maybe not. The Clippers likely know some other jabroni franchise like the Orlando Magic would have offered Paul George a max-deal, so they probably didn't have much of a choice. You don't trade Danilo Gallinari and five first-round picks only to let PG walk for nothing. They made a mistake trading for George in the first place, and if they do get rid of him at some point, it won't be by acting in haste and letting him walk now.

Maybe the Clippers have another plan?

Is it possible that Kawhi and the Clippers have eyes on a deal for James Harden? George's extension nets him $45 million, which is similar to Harden's contract of $42 million. The Clippers could easily swap out their contracts and acquire Harden, if Houston were interested. George may not be on the same level as James Harden or any other MVP, but he also isn't as insufferably miserable as Harden. So there's that.

The Clippers now have a player with no hardware and no MVP titles who thinks he's Michael Jordan. If PG's joke of a contract helps the Clippers land James Harden, then it'll all be worth it.