Kofi Inkoom
Paul George and the Clippers have not yet resolved their contractual issues ahead of the June 30 deadline. However, the All-Star forward believes the team’s performance this season was significantly impacted by losing Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum in the James Harden trade.
“We started the year off hot. Everybody was playing well, there was the energy there. It was kinda like the first time of us all being healthy with Russ now. It was the emergence of what it’s like being with Russ now with myself healthy, Kawhi healthy, and Russ full-time here. It was kind of like a fresh start… Then we traded to get James, and it’s not James’ fault of why we struggled, but the lost part of that was we lost RoCo, we lost Nico… Now you grab James, who is super talented offensively, now myself, Kawhi, we become the dirty guys…” George said on his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George.
Paul George says losing Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum really hurt the Clippers:
“We started the year off hot. Everybody was playing well, there was the energy there. It was kinda like the first time of us all being healthy with Russ now. It was the emergence of what it’s… pic.twitter.com/XzTdYkx0J3
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) June 19, 2024
On November 1, 2023, Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for James Harden. This deal also brought P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers, while the 76ers received additional players and draft picks.
During his time with the Clippers, Covington appeared in 84 games, averaging 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He played a supplementary role off the bench and contributed to the Clippers’ playoff runs, though he did not have a major impact.
Batum joined the Clippers in November 2020 and stayed with the team until the trade in 2023. Over three seasons, he played in 186 games, averaging 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
Batum was key to the Clippers’ deep playoff run in the 2020-21 season, when they reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. His versatile defense and timely three-point shooting were crucial during their postseason efforts.
In his first postseason with the 76ers, he averaged 3.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Despite his experience and defensive skills, Batum’s contributions were not enough to propel the 76ers past the Knicks.
This season, the Clippers exited the playoffs in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks. Although George promised the Clippers a championship back in 2020 after signing a 4-year, $196 million extension with the team, they have yet to achieve it.
Now, he is set to become a free agent this offseason, with reports indicating that the Clippers are not ready to offer him a max extension. Both the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in acquiring him.
George on what he’s looking for in free agency and his future:
“For sure contributing to winning basketball. I mean at this point… It’s not even about… Like people are saying, ‘chasing a championship.’ Like, it’s not that. But it’s playing the right style of basketball is what I’m chasing.”