Inglewood, California — LA Clippers“I hated to look at it,” team owner Steve Ballmer said after the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome was completed. Paul George Although he is gone, he made it clear that he believes in the restructured roster around him. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden We can win this season.
Ballmer gave reporters a final preview of the Clippers’ new home stadium. A double-sided hello display called a “hello board” — He said he likes the club’s new roster, and Ballmer believes the Clippers can be very competitive even without George and fan favorites. Russell Westbrook.
“I love Paul,” Ballmer said. “Let’s start with Paul the person. Paul is a great guy and I really enjoyed getting to know his family. So, personally, I hated it. I really hated it.”
“From a basketball standpoint, Paul is a great player, a future Hall of Famer. But we knew we needed to get better. And what tools and flexibility does the new CBA give us? [can be restricted]”I think we made a great offer to Paul, but it was a great offer based on how we thought about winning the championship. It wasn’t what Paul wanted.”
George signed a four-year, $212 million max contract. Philadelphia 76ers Earlier this month.
George said on the podcast “P with Paul George.” The Clippers started negotiations with a low offer and gradually increased the amount during the season. George said he would have accepted the same three-year, $150 million extension Leonard signed in January. But when the Clippers offered him the same contract this summer when he became a free agent, George said he wanted a no-trade clause because teams weren’t willing to offer him the maximum amount. The Clippers were not willing to implement a no-trade clause.
Lawrence Frank, the team’s president of basketball operations, explained Monday that because of the new collective bargaining agreement and strict restrictions on tax-paying teams, the Clippers would not have been able to retain or add the supporting players needed to build a championship-contending roster around their three older stars if they had given George a bigger contract.
“He wanted to leave and I respect that,” Ballmer said of George. “As a basketball player, you only have so many years in your life to make money. I wish he was here and I wish him the best. The great players we added to our team we wouldn’t have had otherwise, so I’m happy for that.”
The Clippers re-signed Harden Derrick Jones Jr., Nic Batum, Kevin Porter Jr.., Chris Dunn and Mo Bamba Dunn was added in a trade this offseason with defense in mind. Utah Westbrook was released by the Jazz Former MVP signs with Denver A source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that he will do so if he clears waivers.
Asked about building a championship-caliber team in his new palace, Ballmer said: Dallas Mavericks As a team that made it to the NBA Finals with two star players, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irvinghardline complementary players.
“I think we’ll be a very good team,” Ballmer said. “We’re going to compete for a championship and we’ll see how far we can go. There are a lot of good teams in the West. CelticsIn the East, etc. But there are a lot of good teams, and I think we’re one of them, and I think every team gets a little bit of luck if they stay healthy and play well.
“Their top two guys are pretty good, and I’m going to use the guys that surround them. You look at Dallas, they had two great guys and some other really good players, and we certainly have that.”
Ballmer, who was recently ranked the sixth-richest person in the world by Fortune magazine, said the restrictive CBA means other teams will soon be forced to make the same tough decisions the Clippers made with George.
“I think people will be very careful about how they continue. [to] “You build a team to win,” Ballmer said. “Everybody’s going to get to the second apron, but when you get to the second apron, you have to feel like you have a clear opportunity. [to win]”If you’re going to stick around for two years, you better feel like you have a chance. That’s what the NBA and the league were trying to do. They were trying to level the playing field.”
“For someone like me who has been happy to pay the luxury tax, it’s not about the luxury tax anymore. It’s about the penalty in terms of development. I’m not going to sacrifice development. I’m still going to pay the money. But it’s about more than the money now.”
