According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets contemplated trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul George. The Nuggets showed interest in acquiring George, but he declined his 2024-25 player option and instead signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Fischer reported that “Michael Porter Jr.’s big payday in Denver might not have been as big under this new CBA. While Porter helped the Nuggets clinch the 2023 championship, Denver was already considering including Porter in a trade to land Paul George this summer, sources said. However, his cap number likely would have been too daunting for the CBA-conscious Clippers to truly consider if George had opted in to be traded.”
The Nuggets were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games, while the Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round in six games.
In the 2023-24 season, Porter Jr. played 81 games for the Nuggets, averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with shooting percentages of 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc, and 83.6% from the free-throw line. He is set to earn $35.9 million next season and has career averages of 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
Paul George, on the other hand, averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks for the Clippers in the 2023-24 season, with shooting percentages of 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc, and 90.7% from the free-throw line. His career averages are 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Clippers. George hails from Palmdale, California.
The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free agency and are expected to sign Russell Westbrook once he clears waivers.
After losing George, the Clippers signed Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kevin Porter Jr., Mo Bamba, and Kris Dunn, and re-signed James Harden.
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