Rockets In Play For Clippers Paul George For No. 4 Pick?

The Los Angeles Clippers could move on from Paul George ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft, and the Houston Rockets are rumored to make a run.

HOUSTON — The Los Angeles Clippers were the biggest winners in free agency four years ago when they landed Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. But after consecutive years of disappointment, the Clippers are ready to break up their once-prized acquisition.

According to Marc Stein, there is a belief from some rival teams that the Clippers will attempt to "gauge George's trade value" and "give real consideration to the idea of disassembling the Leonard and George tandem." 

To maximize George's trade value, the Clippers would consider flipping the eight-time All-Star to the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets in exchange for the No. 3 or 4 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.

General manager Rafael Stone has expressed the Rockets' urge to add a high-profile player as the team enters phase II of their rebuild, but landing George from the Clippers will be an uphill battle.  

The Rockets could be in a bidding war with the Trail Blazers, who are willing to give up the No. 3 pick for an established star to pair with Damian Lillard. By landing the selection from Portland, the Clippers would be in line to draft G League Ignite's Scoot Henderson. 

The 2022-23 season came to an end after the Clippers fell short of championship expectations. They lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Phoenix Suns in five games after Leonard suffered a knee injury. George missed the entire series with a knee injury he sustained in March. 

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