With Friday’s deadline looming, Paul George is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. That does not, however, mean he has ruled out returning to the team next season.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that George has informed Thunder officials he will opt out, but the star swingman is “seriously interested” in re-signing with the team. George is also planning to strongly consider the Los Angeles Lakers.
While it seems like a two-horse race for George, Wojnarowski notes that the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets also have interest in him. George is eligible to sign a five-year, $176 million contract with the Thunder, but he may prefer a short-term deal that would allow him to opt out after next season. In 2020, George will have 10 years of service in the NBA and be eligible for a four-year, $169 million deal.
The Thunder knew they were taking a risk by trading for George last offseason, as the 28-year-old grew up in L.A. and told the Indiana Pacers he planned to sign with the Lakers during the 2018 offseason. However, some recent comments George made indicate he could be leaning toward remaining in OKC for at least another year.
