The Golden State Warriors have 74 losses and a single playoff sequence win to indicate for the previous two NBA seasons.

They may want a miracle to get this group in place to contend through the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

The basketball gods, although, put a possible miracle repair in entrance of them by the way in which of Paul George’s nonetheless unresolved contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, you is likely to be questioning what these discussions should do with the Dubs. Properly, if issues do not break in George’s favor with the Clippers, he would possibly hunt down a surroundings change to get what he desires.

And Golden State is seemingly keen to supply him precisely that.

“Thus far, the Clippers have solely been prepared to supply Paul George about what they gave Kawhi Leonard,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned Wednesday on Get Up (h/t RealGM). “Three years at somewhat bit lower than the max contract, and Paul George, frankly, desires 4 years. He desires a full out max and there are a selection of groups on the market, I’m advised, which might be ready to present it to him, who’re ready to commerce for him. A type of groups, probably, is up the coast in Golden State.”

Earlier than entering into all the explanations to love George’s on-paper match with the Warriors—and there are various—let’s get a pair worries out of the way in which.

Age and accidents have been main issues for this core, and buying George would solely up the anxiousness. He turned 34 in Might. He performed fewer than 60 video games in 4 of the previous 5 seasons. Had he delivered a clear invoice of well being currently, he’d in all probability have his desired deal in L.A. already.

And but, none of that ought to dissuade the Dubs. Not in the event that they’re nonetheless hoping to assemble a contender round Stephen Curry, a minimum of.

Golden State has struggled to place a succesful co-star alongside Curry ever since Kevin Durant left city in 2019.

Accidents have eroded Klay Thompson’s defensive versatility and offensive consistency. Draymond Inexperienced has grown more and more unreliable. Andrew Wiggins seemed the a part of a championship-level sidekick through the 2022 postseason, however he hasn’t discovered that type since. Jonathan Kuminga broke out in an enormous method over the second half of this season, however anticipating him to function a champion’s second-best participant can be asking a ton of the 21-year-old.

For George, although, there are not any hang-ups—not as long as he stays wholesome, a minimum of. This previous season, he snagged the ninth All-Star collection of his storied profession whereas pumping in 22.6 factors per sport, taking pictures a career-high 41.3 p.c of three and enjoying his signature model of stingy protection.

His credentials stay elite, and his sport is among the many most simple to suit of all of the Affiliation’s prime stars.

He’s equally snug and succesful enjoying on or off the ball. He can carry an offense in stretches, working as something from a shotmaker and creator to a quick-processing playmaker and downhill attacker. He can even thrive as an off-ball shooter with one of many league’s most fiery three-balls. And regardless of how heavy his offensive workload is, he all the time brings vitality, consciousness and switch-friendly versatility to the defensive finish.

He shines each underneath the highlight and in help of a brighter star. He can discover his footing with out stepping on anybody’s toes after which repeat that course of over the course of an 82-game marketing campaign. He’s, in a way, a turbo-charged model of how Wiggins was throughout that championship run and never all that dissimilar from the kind of two-way star they hope Kuminga someday turns into.

Talking of Kuminga, by the way in which, he is an enormous purpose why George might be way more of a practical goal than a pipe dream. The Warriors are in no hurry to maneuver Kuminga, however they could make that concession if “he is wanted in a commerce bundle for an All-NBA participant,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported.

And Kuminga is much from all Golden State has to supply. The Warriors have spawned a small steady of intriguing up-and-comers, like Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Moses Moody. They’ve a number of future first-round picks to dangle as sweeteners. They usually may make the cash work with hefty salaries tied to Chris Paul (his would wish guaranteeing forward of a commerce) and Andrew Wiggins.

George feels obtainable, offered the Clippers do not cave to his calls for. That has to curiosity the Warriors, who ought to have some stage of championship hopes so long as Curry is round however want a difference-maker like George to assist make them a actuality.