“Growing Belief around the League” that Paul George Will Stay with Oklahoma City Thunder

Paul George with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018
Paul George with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018. Photo by Jevone Moore/Cal Sport Media/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9366774al)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s forward Paul George is one of the biggest NBA stars to enter the free agency this offseason. Now, even before Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti managed to get him in Oklahoma City, it looked like George’s destination for the 2018-19 season is all set. His hometown of Los Angeles.

This became even more apparent when the Thunder performed below expectations in the past season and was eliminated in the first round of playoffs by Utah Jazz team whose biggest star was a rookie.

But, wait a second. Thunder fans, don’t burn your PG13 jerseys just yet. It looks like Paul George might end up staying in Oklahoma City after all. According to The New York Times, there is a “growing belief around the league” that George might be playing in the same jersey next season as well.

There is a growing belief around the league that Oklahoma City has a far better chance to retain the free-agent-to-be Paul George than many believed when the Thunder crashed out of the first round of the playoffs.” – wrote Stein in his New York Times newsletter on Tuesday.

This might not be a so farfetched, considering the fact that Oklahoma City Thunder can offer Paul George the most money. Thunder holds his Bird rights and can offer him five-year, $175.7 million contract while other teams can offer him four-year, $130.3 million deal. Besides this, it looks like George developed a good relationship with Thunder’s biggest star Russell Westbrook and also enjoys life in Oklahoma City.

With Thunder, Paul George would certainly have a better chance to compete for a championship than if he decides to go home and play for the Los Angeles Lakers. His decision might also depend on the move that LeBron James makes. With James and George, Lakers would immediately be an NBA championship contender. But if James decides to go elsewhere, George would be a lot further from the title than he is now.

Besides Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers, other team’s that are in the mix to land Paul George are Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets.

Gunner's favorite movies are Pulp Fiction, Iron Man (just the first one), and every James Bond film ever made. He's learning TV and cinema and hoping to always enjoy movies as he does now.