Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty ImagesLos Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said Thursday the second luxury tax apron will impact the team's extension negotiations with Paul George.
"We love Paul," Frank said Thursday, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "We very much want to retain Paul, but we also very much understand and respect the fact this is a business."
Paul has until Saturday to decide on his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season. The nine-time All-Star is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $221 million.
"This is a business and the reality of the new CBA impacts teams like us," Frank said, per Youngmisuk. "When your better players are in their 30s and you're trying to build a sustainable roster, it impacts it.
"Like if there was no CBA, with [team owner] Steve Ballmer, it would be carte blanche. With the new CBA, it's not even about the money as it is how are you going to build a sustainable roster, maintain your tools to have transactional flexibility? And with that comes really, really hard decisions."
The Clippers have made more than $365 million in luxury tax payments over the last three seasons, per Spotrac. Last season, with the newly-installed second apron raising penalties for high-spending teams, the Clippers' $142.4 million bill made franchise history.
Los Angeles has previously had "extensive discussions" with George about a potential extension, especially before the February trade deadline, The Athletic's Sam Amick and Law Murray reported in May.
Those talks haven't led to anything yet. The Clippers' hopes that George will, like Kawhi Leonard, sign a deal below the maximum could lead to George hitting free agency on June 30.
ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaGlpYmuBdHyMnKOiqKCav7R5z6ucrKGUmru1edOao6SrXaWutriMoJyoqpeaeqS7za2pmpukYq6utcNmnZploqq6sL7SZquhoaNitrR5wGaZrquZo7K0vw%3D%3D