Paul George opts out of $48.7 million player option in latest NBA free agency twist

Paul George is hitting the open market.

George has opted out of his $48.7 million player option with the Clippers for the 2024-25 season, according to ESPN.

The 34-year-old star is expected to meet with teams — including the Clippers — on Sunday night, per the outlet.

He now immediately becomes one of the top players available as free agency begins Sunday.

The Fresno State product played in 74 games during the 2023-24 regular season, the most he tallied in five seasons with Los Angeles.

He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and shot a career-high 41.3 percent from 3-point range.

George was an All-Star the last two years after playing in only 31 games in 2021-22 due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm.

ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst offered on “Get Up” on June 24 that George had a “different menu of options,” including opting into the final year to facilitate a trade.

However, that’s now off the table.

One of those options included a new long-term deal with the Clippers, which did not come to fruition before the opt-out decision, although not for a lack of effort from the franchise.

Rumors had circulated about George potentially landing with the Knicks if he opted into his contract with Los Angeles, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

The 76ers were also a potential free agent landing spot since before the playoffs ended, but interest had seemingly faded, per The Athletic.

This past season, he worked alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to help the Clippers secure the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed before losing in the first round to the Dallas Mavericks.

Since George’s arrival in Los Angeles in 2019, the Clippers have made the playoffs in four of five seasons, but they have yet to advance beyond the Western Conference Final.