Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has shared his honest thoughts about losing one of his best players, Paul George, in free agency.
George played five seasons with the Clippers and 34-year-old will keep chasing a championship after signing a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers.
PG-13 recently shared that he didn’t want to leave LAC, but the ‘disrespectful’ offer initially tabled by the Clippers set the tone for negotiations.
Though 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 human being. Paul is a great human being and I’ve 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’s happy for George and is excited for the new crop of players his team was able to sign once he left.
“He wanted to go and I respect him for that,” Ballmer said. “Basketball players don’t have that many years in their lives to really make money, etc. I wish he was here and I wish him well. We got a lot of great players we added that we wouldn’t 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 different things have become under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement.
“I think people are going to be very thoughtful about how they continue to build their rosters to win,” the Clippers owner said. “I think people are going to be over the second apron, but when you’re over the second apron, you better feel like you got a clear shot.
“It’s not about the luxury tax anymore. It’s about the penalties in terms of how you get better. I’m not willing to sacrifice getting better. Still willing to pay the money. But it’s more than money now.”