"That new $15 billion building they built in Playa Vista is about to be a ghost town" – Shannon Sharpe goes off on the Clippers' losing PG for nothing
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The Los Angeles Clippers had high hopes of inaugurating their state-of-the-art arena, the Intuit Dome, with a resounding success. It was a long-awaited moment for a franchise that had always played second fiddle to the more illustrious L.A. Lakers. However, this dream turned into a nightmare when a key member of their "Big 3," Paul George, chose to opt out of his contract, become a free agent, and sign a max deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to sports analyst Shannon Sharpe, this development was a death blow to the franchise, especially with the king's ransom they had to pay to acquire PG-13 from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.
Lost their star and got nothing in return
Before PG announced he was declining his $48 million player option, the Clippers reportedly had numerous offers for the versatile, veteran wingman, the most prominent of which came from division rivals, Golden State. The Dubs, eager to reload their roster, were offering a robust package headlined by either All-Star Andrew Wiggins or blossoming forward Jonathan Kuminga.
However, the Clippers turned down the offer, and now, they find themselves in a precarious position.
"This was a death blow to the Clippers because, Stephen A, they let Paul George walk away for nothing. You know who else this happened to? The OKC Thunder. You remember when Kevin Durant walked out the door, and they got no draft compensation? At least LeBron James did a sign-and-trade, and Cleveland was able to get capital," Shannon toldStephen A. Smith on "First Take."
What began as a trade full of promise and title aspirations ended in disappointment and frustration for the Clippers. Even though the Clippers still have two All-Stars, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, on the team, it remains to be seen if the former can stay healthy all season or if the latter can stay engaged and focused on winning after a tumultuous offseason.
A brand-new arena that may end up being half-filled
In the NBA, superstars draw crowds and fill the seats with fans. With their "Big 3," the Clippers believed they could fill the Intuit Dome, which seats 18,000 people. However, with the Clips' stars reduced to a dynamic duo, the former NFL star fears the Intuit Dome could become a ghost town.
"They're in trouble. All this notion, 'Oh, this is the L.A. market; they got billboards with Kawhi Town,' and look what happened. It's about to be a ghost town in that new $10 billion, $15 billion building that they built in Playa Vista. It's about to be a ghost town over there," Shannon stressed.
The Clippers are clearly facing a challenging offseason. From losing PG-13 without any compensation to filling out the roster, the team has a tough road ahead. Rumors are already swirling about potential trades and signings, with names like Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan being thrown into the mix.
However, one thing is certain: the Clippers must address their lack of star power if they want to remain competitive in the NBA.