The Warriors were determined to acquire Paul George, but fell short of reaching a deal before he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Reports suggest that the team was close to getting the nine-time NBA All-Star before he opted out of his contract with the Clippers on Saturday. Negotiations took place at various levels within the organization, but ultimately, Golden State missed out on acquiring George.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, George was interested in joining the Warriors, but the team refused to include young forward Jonathan Kuminga in any trade offers. Even though Golden State offered multiple combinations of expiring contracts, young players, and draft picks, they were unwilling to part ways with Kuminga, who is seen as a key piece of the team’s future.
Reports by The Athletic suggested that the Warriors’ offers for George included players like Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Kuminga, Moses Moody, and a future first-round pick. The exact details of the trade packages are unclear due to conflicting reports, but it is evident that Golden State values Kuminga highly and did not want to lose him in a potential deal for George.
Despite their efforts, the Warriors were unable to secure George, who ultimately signed a lucrative deal with the 76ers. Moving forward, Golden State will focus on developing their young talent, including Kuminga, as they look to build a championship-contending team in the future.