Many have assumed for years that Paul George is destined to end up with the Los Angeles Lakers, and that could very well come to fruition this summer. But based on everything George has said to this point, Oklahoma City Thunder fans should not give up hope.
ESPN aired Part 1 of a three-part documentary series entitled “Paul George: My Journey” on Tuesday, and in it George made it clear that he intends to opt out of the final year of his contract. He also spoke very highly of the Thunder and their front office group, and at one point he indicated he feels inclined to reward them for taking a chance by trading for him.
“Here they have made a huge risk in trading for me, knowing I have one year on my deal,” George said, as transcribed by Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman. “But I felt I didn’t finish as strong as I could have. Just knowing you left something on the table, even to this point now, it weighs on me.”
George did not make as big of an impact as expected in his first season with the Thunder, and his last game of the year was arguably his worst. George scored just five points on 2-of-16 shooting in a Game 6 playoff loss to the Utah Jazz, and OKC failed to advance past the first round for the second straight season.
George’s sister, Teiosha George, said the Thunder “really wowed us” when Paul arrived in Oklahoma City. George said he is considering a lot of factors in making his free agency decision, describing the process as “overwhelming.”
“It’s a lot of things that go into it — trying to find the right fit, what’s the best place for me to raise my kids,” he said. “A lot is playing into this, so it’s a bit overwhelming.”
It seems fairly obvious that George’s decision has come down to staying in OKC or signing with the Lakers. Perhaps he is waiting for the biggest story of the NBA offseason to unfold, as it could be the deciding factor in which team he chooses.
