Report: Warriors would offer Paul George max contract

The Golden State Warriors are aggressively pursuing trade options for Los Angeles Clippers superstar Paul George and would offer him the four-year max extension he's seeking, ESPN reported Wednesday.

George reportedly is in a staredown with the Clippers, who are offering the nine-time All-Star a three-year extension at less than max value. The Clippers are betting that George, a Palmdale, Calif., native, wouldn't leave his hometown team, per the report.

"Golden State is big-fish hunting. Remember, last trade deadline, they put a call in about LeBron James. They are sniffing around big deals. If Paul George is willing to leave, they would like to be an option for him," ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Wednesday.

George has until Saturday, the day before free agency begins, to decide whether to exercise his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

NBA insider Marc Stein said the Warriors would make point guard Chris Paul the centerpiece of a trade to the Clippers for George.

George just completed his fifth season with the Clippers. He's averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 867 career games (819 starts) with the Indiana Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19) and Clippers.

--Field Level Media/ Reuters