Oklahoma City Thunder parted ways with their All-Star duo Paul George and Russell Westbrook this offseason swiftly transforming themselves from a playoff contender to a lottery team. And while many believed that this process was kicked off by George’s trade request, it looks like the truth might be somewhat different.

George made a trade request shortly after the start of free agency and ended up being dealt to Los Angeles Clippers, where he teamed up with Kawhi Leonard. After that, Russell Westbrook also left OKC, heading to Houston Rockets. This officially marked the start of a rebuilding period for the Thunder, who saw first-round playoff exits in the previous three years.

Now, Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers claims that OKC wanted to “break their team up” all along after this lack of success which made it easier for his team to acquire Paul George.

“We showed [Leonard] everybody else, and he didn’t want to hear it.” – Rivers told Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times while guiding him through their free agency meeting with Leonard. “He just stayed on Paul George, so after the meeting we sat down and I said, ‘We got to get Paul George. I don’t know how we are going to do it, but we have to do it.’ We did know that Oklahoma City wanted to break their team up, so that helped, but we didn’t know if we could get him.”

Oklahoma City Thunder managed to pick up a bunch of draft picks from the Clippers in a George trade, while also getting forward Danilo Gallinari and talented point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Still, they are not expected to be any good anytime soon and will most likely spend the next several years at the bottom of the Western Conference.

The post OKC Wanted to “Break Their Team Up” Even Before Paul George Trade Claims Doc Rivers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Although Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t make it past the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, it looks like the team’s star players ended the season pretty banged up. According to ESPN, both of OKC’s All-Stars, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, have undergone surgeries in recent days.

 George had a procedure on his right shoulder in order to repair a partially torn tendon, while also being scheduled for a smaller-scale procedure on his left shoulder. The 29-year-old will reportedly miss out the Thunder’s preseason training camp while recovering but might be ready for the start of the season.

Westbrook, on the other hand, also had surgery on his left hand to repair a torn ligament in one of the fingers while also undergoing a minor procedure on his right knee. He is, however, expected to return in time for the training camp.

Paul George had an MVP-worthy campaign in the first half of the season but started to struggle after injuring his shoulder in a game against Denver Nuggets on February 21st. After missing three games, George returned to the court but then injured his left shoulder. The injuries caused his production to slip down which greatly affected the Thunder’s overall performance and caused them to slip from the third seed to sixth seed in the West.

George ended the regular season averaging 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, reportedly played with injury on his non-shooting hand for final six weeks of the regular season and through the first round. Westbrook ended up averaging a triple-double for a third consecutive NBA season with 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game.

The post OKC’s All-Stars Paul George and Russell Westbrook Undergo Surgeries appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Paul George made one of the most surprising decisions in this summer’s free agency when he opted to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He even refused to meet with other NBA teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, his hometown team and presumed favorite to sign him.

Now, speaking on the Short Story Long podcast, the 28-year-old All-Star decided to explain the reasons for refusing a meeting with the Lakers.

“L.A. was pissed at me” – said George. “I didn’t give Magic [Johnson] a meeting, which I understand. But at that point, I knew I wanted to give it another shot [in Oklahoma City]. I didn’t want to prolong it and waste people’s time.“

According to Paul George, he saw more positives than negatives in his single season with Thunder and decided it was worth sticking around.

“Coming down to free agency, I didn’t want to waste any time,” – he added. “I wanted to give it another shot. I gave them one year. We played well against the best teams. I wanted to give it a real shot.“

In the summer of 2017, Paul George informed his Indiana Pacers that he won’t resign with the team and that he prefers a move to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite his desire, Thunder decided to take a gamble and send Victor Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis to Pacers in exchange for George.

OKC showed flashes of being a great team in the last season, but the team didn’t end the year on a high note, losing to the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After this, many people thought that Thunder’s chances to re-sign Paul George went from slim to none after this, but he managed to surprise them all.

In the past season, George averaged 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game.

The post Paul George on Not Meeting with Lakers: “I Didn’t Want to Prolong It” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

In one of the most surprising moves this NBA offseason, Paul George decided to turn down the opportunity to play in his hometown of Los Angeles. Instead, the 28-year-old All-Star agreed to prolong his stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder, signing a four-year deal with the team.

Now, while attending USA Basketball’s minicamp, PG13 decided to explain his decision to stay with the OKC. George said that although he wanted to get back home, he loved the situation in Oklahoma and decided to “around a little longer.”

“It was absolutely tempting,” – said George about the opportunity to join LA Lakers. “Honestly, I wanted to come back home. But again, I got traded to Oklahoma. Loved the situation. Loved where I was at. I decided to stick around a little longer.“

“I just wanted my free agency to be over with. In my heart, I felt great about Oklahoma and I wasn’t going to prolong it if I felt good about it already.” – he added.

Before entering the final year of his contract with the Indiana Pacers, Paul George decided to tell the organization that he doesn’t intend to sign the extension and would prefer to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, Lakers opted against trading for George, thinking they will get him for free in the summer of 2018. Knowing this, Thunder decided to make a gamble and trade for him regardless. The risk ended up paying off, and George remained in Oklahoma without even giving Lakers a meeting with him.

Although Paul George put up significant numbers in the past season – 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game – Oklahoma City Thunder underachieved and ended up being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. George is well aware of this and intends to make a better impression in the next season.

“I felt when it came down to it and all the factors that played into it, deep down there was a nasty taste where we finished,” – he said. “I just felt I had more to offer. I had more to give. I just felt about where we were as a whole.”

The post Paul George Explains His Decision to Stay in OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Paul George will snub the bright lights of his hometown Los Angeles and try to build on his partnership with Russell Westbrook. It was revealed by multiple sources, including Yahoo Sports and ESPN, that George has agreed to sign a four-year, $137 million deal which will keep him with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Paul George has committed to sign a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018

On Saturday night, Thunder organized a huge party and brought Paul George in, hoping to get a long-term commitment from him. They did so, with George taking the mic at one point and saying: “If y’all didn’t quite get it, let me say it again. I’m here to stay.”

You heard it here first. pic.twitter.com/jN6gBn6j1Z

— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) July 1, 2018

This was rather a surprising decision for the majority of the NBA. Little over a year ago, Paul George informed Indiana Pacers that he intends to leave the organization in 2018 and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Knowing his wish to sign with the Lakers, teams were reluctant to give up many assets to acquire him, thinking he would be a one-year rental. Thunder, however, decided to take a gamble and sent Victor Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis to Indiana in return for George.

Unfortunately for OKC, their pitch to Paul George took a hit, since the team struggled throughout the season and were eliminated in the first round of playoffs by Utah Jazz. Still, George spoke positively about the organization the whole year, and in the recent weeks, there was a growing sense he might stay in Oklahoma, which ended up happening. Sources close to the situation said that friendship he developed with Russell Westbrook in the past year was a big factor for George in making his decision.

Surprisingly, Los Angeles Lakers didn’t even manage to get a meeting with the player. Still, it is hard to imagine they will be sad for too long since they have managed to sign LeBron James a day later.

The post Paul George to Stay with OKC, Signs 4-Year/$137 Million Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post “Growing Belief around the League” that Paul George Will Stay with Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Although the Oklahoma City Thunder is struggling at the moment and even might miss the postseason (which is unlikely), Paul George is still considering sticking with the team after he becomes a free agent in the summer.

“As I told Rachel [Nichols], I can see myself being here,” – said George on Friday. “I’ve been happy here, I’ve been happy with the organization, happy with my teammates. Our record is not what we want it to be, but I think I’ve enjoyed just learning and being around these guys. So my answer is still the same. I’m not going to let the playoffs or how we finish this season persuade or indicate where I’m going to this offseason. I’m going to put everything into this and again, I can definitely see myself being here.“

Oklahoma City Thunder is currently the 6th seed in the Western Conference, but with only one game ahead of Denver Nuggets who are sitting at the 9th spot in the standings. What worries the OKC fans is the fact that the team has lost four games out of the last five and has two difficult matchups in their next three games against Houston Rockets and Miami Heat.

“This is our first year together. This is year one for this group,” – George added. “We’ve got a chance to win it all, but realistically it takes time for things to build and chemistry to mesh. Just for everybody to be on the same page. So this wasn’t a championship or bust coming into this for me. It was just an opportunity to see what it’s like being here and just to naturally fall in love with it. And it’s been that. It’s been a lot of love here.“

Paul George has been averaging 21.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Thunder in the current season.

The post Paul George “Can Definitely See” Himself Staying with Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Oklahoma City Thunder parted ways with their All-Star duo Paul George and Russell Westbrook this offseason swiftly transforming themselves from a playoff contender to a lottery team. And while many believed that this process was kicked off by George’s trade request, it looks like the truth might be somewhat different.

George made a trade request shortly after the start of free agency and ended up being dealt to Los Angeles Clippers, where he teamed up with Kawhi Leonard. After that, Russell Westbrook also left OKC, heading to Houston Rockets. This officially marked the start of a rebuilding period for the Thunder, who saw first-round playoff exits in the previous three years.

Now, Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers claims that OKC wanted to “break their team up” all along after this lack of success which made it easier for his team to acquire Paul George.

“We showed [Leonard] everybody else, and he didn’t want to hear it.” – Rivers told Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times while guiding him through their free agency meeting with Leonard. “He just stayed on Paul George, so after the meeting we sat down and I said, ‘We got to get Paul George. I don’t know how we are going to do it, but we have to do it.’ We did know that Oklahoma City wanted to break their team up, so that helped, but we didn’t know if we could get him.”

Oklahoma City Thunder managed to pick up a bunch of draft picks from the Clippers in a George trade, while also getting forward Danilo Gallinari and talented point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Still, they are not expected to be any good anytime soon and will most likely spend the next several years at the bottom of the Western Conference.

The post OKC Wanted to “Break Their Team Up” Even Before Paul George Trade Claims Doc Rivers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Although Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t make it past the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, it looks like the team’s star players ended the season pretty banged up. According to ESPN, both of OKC’s All-Stars, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, have undergone surgeries in recent days.

 George had a procedure on his right shoulder in order to repair a partially torn tendon, while also being scheduled for a smaller-scale procedure on his left shoulder. The 29-year-old will reportedly miss out the Thunder’s preseason training camp while recovering but might be ready for the start of the season.

Westbrook, on the other hand, also had surgery on his left hand to repair a torn ligament in one of the fingers while also undergoing a minor procedure on his right knee. He is, however, expected to return in time for the training camp.

Paul George had an MVP-worthy campaign in the first half of the season but started to struggle after injuring his shoulder in a game against Denver Nuggets on February 21st. After missing three games, George returned to the court but then injured his left shoulder. The injuries caused his production to slip down which greatly affected the Thunder’s overall performance and caused them to slip from the third seed to sixth seed in the West.

George ended the regular season averaging 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, reportedly played with injury on his non-shooting hand for final six weeks of the regular season and through the first round. Westbrook ended up averaging a triple-double for a third consecutive NBA season with 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game.

The post OKC’s All-Stars Paul George and Russell Westbrook Undergo Surgeries appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Paul George made one of the most surprising decisions in this summer’s free agency when he opted to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He even refused to meet with other NBA teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, his hometown team and presumed favorite to sign him.

Now, speaking on the Short Story Long podcast, the 28-year-old All-Star decided to explain the reasons for refusing a meeting with the Lakers.

“L.A. was pissed at me” – said George. “I didn’t give Magic [Johnson] a meeting, which I understand. But at that point, I knew I wanted to give it another shot [in Oklahoma City]. I didn’t want to prolong it and waste people’s time.“

According to Paul George, he saw more positives than negatives in his single season with Thunder and decided it was worth sticking around.

“Coming down to free agency, I didn’t want to waste any time,” – he added. “I wanted to give it another shot. I gave them one year. We played well against the best teams. I wanted to give it a real shot.“

In the summer of 2017, Paul George informed his Indiana Pacers that he won’t resign with the team and that he prefers a move to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite his desire, Thunder decided to take a gamble and send Victor Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis to Pacers in exchange for George.

OKC showed flashes of being a great team in the last season, but the team didn’t end the year on a high note, losing to the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After this, many people thought that Thunder’s chances to re-sign Paul George went from slim to none after this, but he managed to surprise them all.

In the past season, George averaged 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game.

The post Paul George on Not Meeting with Lakers: “I Didn’t Want to Prolong It” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

In one of the most surprising moves this NBA offseason, Paul George decided to turn down the opportunity to play in his hometown of Los Angeles. Instead, the 28-year-old All-Star agreed to prolong his stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder, signing a four-year deal with the team.

Now, while attending USA Basketball’s minicamp, PG13 decided to explain his decision to stay with the OKC. George said that although he wanted to get back home, he loved the situation in Oklahoma and decided to “around a little longer.”

“It was absolutely tempting,” – said George about the opportunity to join LA Lakers. “Honestly, I wanted to come back home. But again, I got traded to Oklahoma. Loved the situation. Loved where I was at. I decided to stick around a little longer.“

“I just wanted my free agency to be over with. In my heart, I felt great about Oklahoma and I wasn’t going to prolong it if I felt good about it already.” – he added.

Before entering the final year of his contract with the Indiana Pacers, Paul George decided to tell the organization that he doesn’t intend to sign the extension and would prefer to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, Lakers opted against trading for George, thinking they will get him for free in the summer of 2018. Knowing this, Thunder decided to make a gamble and trade for him regardless. The risk ended up paying off, and George remained in Oklahoma without even giving Lakers a meeting with him.

Although Paul George put up significant numbers in the past season – 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game – Oklahoma City Thunder underachieved and ended up being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. George is well aware of this and intends to make a better impression in the next season.

“I felt when it came down to it and all the factors that played into it, deep down there was a nasty taste where we finished,” – he said. “I just felt I had more to offer. I had more to give. I just felt about where we were as a whole.”

The post Paul George Explains His Decision to Stay in OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Paul George will snub the bright lights of his hometown Los Angeles and try to build on his partnership with Russell Westbrook. It was revealed by multiple sources, including Yahoo Sports and ESPN, that George has agreed to sign a four-year, $137 million deal which will keep him with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Paul George has committed to sign a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018

On Saturday night, Thunder organized a huge party and brought Paul George in, hoping to get a long-term commitment from him. They did so, with George taking the mic at one point and saying: “If y’all didn’t quite get it, let me say it again. I’m here to stay.”

You heard it here first. pic.twitter.com/jN6gBn6j1Z

— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) July 1, 2018

This was rather a surprising decision for the majority of the NBA. Little over a year ago, Paul George informed Indiana Pacers that he intends to leave the organization in 2018 and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Knowing his wish to sign with the Lakers, teams were reluctant to give up many assets to acquire him, thinking he would be a one-year rental. Thunder, however, decided to take a gamble and sent Victor Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis to Indiana in return for George.

Unfortunately for OKC, their pitch to Paul George took a hit, since the team struggled throughout the season and were eliminated in the first round of playoffs by Utah Jazz. Still, George spoke positively about the organization the whole year, and in the recent weeks, there was a growing sense he might stay in Oklahoma, which ended up happening. Sources close to the situation said that friendship he developed with Russell Westbrook in the past year was a big factor for George in making his decision.

Surprisingly, Los Angeles Lakers didn’t even manage to get a meeting with the player. Still, it is hard to imagine they will be sad for too long since they have managed to sign LeBron James a day later.

The post Paul George to Stay with OKC, Signs 4-Year/$137 Million Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post “Growing Belief around the League” that Paul George Will Stay with Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Although the Oklahoma City Thunder is struggling at the moment and even might miss the postseason (which is unlikely), Paul George is still considering sticking with the team after he becomes a free agent in the summer.

“As I told Rachel [Nichols], I can see myself being here,” – said George on Friday. “I’ve been happy here, I’ve been happy with the organization, happy with my teammates. Our record is not what we want it to be, but I think I’ve enjoyed just learning and being around these guys. So my answer is still the same. I’m not going to let the playoffs or how we finish this season persuade or indicate where I’m going to this offseason. I’m going to put everything into this and again, I can definitely see myself being here.“

Oklahoma City Thunder is currently the 6th seed in the Western Conference, but with only one game ahead of Denver Nuggets who are sitting at the 9th spot in the standings. What worries the OKC fans is the fact that the team has lost four games out of the last five and has two difficult matchups in their next three games against Houston Rockets and Miami Heat.

“This is our first year together. This is year one for this group,” – George added. “We’ve got a chance to win it all, but realistically it takes time for things to build and chemistry to mesh. Just for everybody to be on the same page. So this wasn’t a championship or bust coming into this for me. It was just an opportunity to see what it’s like being here and just to naturally fall in love with it. And it’s been that. It’s been a lot of love here.“

Paul George has been averaging 21.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Thunder in the current season.

The post Paul George “Can Definitely See” Himself Staying with Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.