Clippers want to keep Paul George, James Harden with Kawhi Leonard - ESPN

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The LA Clippers hope to enter their new home, the Intuit Dome, next season with Paul George and James Harden.

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said the Clippers hope to retain both stars to continue playing alongside Kawhi Leonard.

George has a player option on the $48.8 million due next season and can become a free agent if he and the Clippers are unable to come to an agreement on an extension before June 30. Harden will be an unrestricted free agent. The point guard could wait to see what happens with George first before figuring out his future with the Clippers.

«We'd like to be able to bring back and retain Paul and James,» Frank said Monday. «We're hopeful we can, but also understand and respect the fact that they're free agents. Paul has a decision with his option. James will be an unrestricted free agent, so our intent is to bring him back, but also realize that they're elite players and they'll have choices.»

George is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $221 million extension through June 30. The Clippers can still offer George up to that much if he becomes a free agent. Other potential suitors can offer a max that is $9 million less than what the Clippers can offer.

After the Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year, $150-million extension in early January, George said he remained optimistic that he and the Clippers could come to an agreement on an extension. But Frank said the two sides decided to table talks around the All-Star break.

After LA's 114-101 loss in Game 6 at Dallas, George was asked whether he sees himself with the Clippers long term with Leonard and Harden.

«Yeah,» George said. «If it works that way, absolutely.»

With the Clippers likely to become a second