Clippers owner Steve Ballmer shared his honest thoughts about losing one of his best players, Paul George, to free agency.
George played five seasons with the Clippers and the 34-year-old will continue to chase a championship after signing a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers.
PG-13 recently shared that he doesn't want to leave LAC, but the 'disrespectful' offer initially made by the Clippers set the tone for the talks.
Although Ballmer doesn't have a bad word to say about the nine-time All-Star.
“I love Paul,” the LAC owner told reporters. “Let's start with Paul as a person. Paul is a great person and I really enjoyed my opportunity to get to know Paul's family. So on a personal level, I hated it. I hated it.”
The eccentric owner said he was happy with George and was happy with the new crop of players his team was able to sign after he left.
“He wanted to go and I respect him for that,” said Ballmer. “Basketball players don't have that many years in their life to really make money, etc. I wish he was here and I wish him well. We have found a number of high quality players that we have added that we would not have been able to add otherwise. So I'm happy about that too.”
The Clippers re-signed James Harden, added Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kevin Porter Jr. and Mo Bamba and traded Russell Westbrook to the Jazz for Kris Dunn.
Ballmer explained how things are different under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement.
“I think people are going to think a lot about how they're going to continue to build their roster to win,” the Clippers owner said. “I think people will be going past the second apron, but once you get past the second apron, you feel better like you've got a clear shot.
“There is no longer talk of a luxury tax. It's about punishments about how you get better. I am not willing to sacrifice myself to be better. He is still willing to pay the money. But now it's more than money.”
Source link
