March 2018 Oklahoma City Thunder Wiretap

Paul George Agrees Upon Four-Year, $137M Deal With Thunder

Jul 1, 2018 3:36 PM

Paul George has committed to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder on a four-year, $137 million deal. George will have a player option in Year 4. 

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement allows George to extend after the second anniversary of the deal, so George can sign a five-year max in 2020 that essentially makes this deal a seven-year, $290 million contract based on future cap projections.

The Thunder acquired George from the Indiana Pacers last June 30th in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

The Los Angeles Lakers were linked with George for over a year, but he re-signed with the Thunder without even meeting with his hometown franchise.

"It lines him up with Russell Westbrook," said Adrian Wojnarowski.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Paul George Expected To Immediately Re-Sign With Thunder

Jun 30, 2018 11:43 PM

Paul George is expected to agree to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

George was connected to the Los Angeles Lakers for more than a year, but it appears as though he will commit to the Thunder without even taking a meeting with his hometown team.

The Thunder are holding a party at the house of Russell Westbrook on the eve of free agency opening.

"This is a friendship decision to stay in OKC as much as anything," one rival executive said about the friendship between George and Westbrook.

Marc Stein/New York Times

Tags: Paul George, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Cavs, Warriors, Thunder, Wizards Pay Luxury Tax For 18-19

Jun 30, 2018 10:03 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards made luxury tax payments this season.

The Cavaliers paid the most at $50.7 million, followed by the Warriors at $32.3 million, the Thunder at $25.4 million and the Wizards at $7 million.

The Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks were surcharged for being below the minimum team salary.

Larry Coon/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Russell Westbrook Hosting Party In OKC With Paul George In Attendance

Jun 30, 2018 7:24 PM

Russell Westbrook is hosting a private party on Saturday evening in Oklahoma City at the start of free agency with Paul George attending.

Nas reportedly will perform at the party.

The invitation says, "The FOMO will be real." Invited guests were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

George can sign a new contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 1st.

George is also strongly considering the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.

Royce Young/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Paul George Informs Thunder He Will Become Free Agent

Jun 28, 2018 7:51 AM

Paul George has informed the Oklahoma City Thunder will not opt into the final season of his contract at $20.7 million and he will become a free agent.

The move was widely expected.

George remains seriously interested in re-signing with the Thunder while the Los Angeles Lakers will also receive serious consideration.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets are interested in pursuing George.

George is eligible to sign a five-year, $176 million contract with the Thunder. A shorter contract with the Thunder could allow him to have more control over his future.

George could also do a one-plus-one contract to become a free agent again in 2019 or in 2020 when he reaches 10 years of service, which would make him eligible for a four-year, $169 million deal.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Russell Westbrook Aware Players May Not Want To Play With Him

Jun 26, 2018 12:35 AM

Russell Westbrook has realized that he will need to take a lead role in keeping Paul George with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"The bigger question for me is not necessarily what the Thunder learned, but what did Russell Westbrook learn about recruiting star a teammate back?" said Royce Young on The Hoop Collective. "I think what's interesting here is I hear a lot about Westbrook and George and kind of the relationship they've built and that it's really strong off the court.

"I think what's key about this is Paul George got to meet Russell Westbrook when he was 28 years old. Russell Westbrook at 28 years old is a lot different than the 20-year-old Kevin Durant met and got to know. So while Westbrook and Durant had a unique bond they had a respect and admiration for each other, there were a lot of scars to that relationship.

"Paul George is meeting and getting to know Russell Westbrook as a father, as a married man and as a strong and mature guy. Quite an evolution in terms of personality. I think that's kind of an interesting element.

"One thing Russell Westbrook is not known for is he's not a real social guy when it comes to team dinners, hanging out, cookouts at the house, playing video games and doing those types of things. Westbrook was kind of off and isolated.

"He's kind of broken out of that shell with Paul George."

Westbrook reportedly is aware of the perception some around the league have that certain players may not want to play with him.

"It's a conversation I've had with him and other people have talked to him about. He's aware of the idea that people don't want to play with him," said Young. Whether that's true or not. Really, this is kind of an unfair setup for him. Paul George coming to Oklahoma City; they were never on the radar. It was well known that the Lakers were his preferred destination.

"If Westbrook can pull it off, it's a feather in his cap for sure. At the same time, it's going to be something people are going to talk about. It's going to be a narrative that persists if Paul George leaves whether it's Westbrook's fault or not."

Royce Young/ESPN

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Paul George Will Air Three-Part Decision Documentary On ESPN

Jun 25, 2018 6:42 PM

Paul George and ESPN announced a three-part documentary following his free agency decision.

The first episode will debut in Tuesday's episode of SportsCenter.

Part 1 will examine George’s rise to NBA stardom while the second part, debuting June 28, will follow him during his off-court pursuits as he prepares to build on his career. 

Part 3 won't air until George's NBA plans are made public.

Each episode will be six minutes in length.

“This inside story is just another way that SportsCenter will offer distinctive content on free agency, one of the biggest offseason stories in the NBA,” said David Roberts, ESPN vice president, network content.

Andy Hall/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Paul George Critical Of Pacers Declining Option On Lance Stephenson

Jun 25, 2018 5:09 PM

Paul George responded on Instagram to a report that the Indiana Pacers had declined their option on Lance Stephenson.

George was traded by the Pacers last offseason to the Oklahoma City Thunder after it was clear he would sign elsewhere if the team remained outside of title contention.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Paul George, Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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LeBron James' Camp Pessimistic About Paul George Leaving Thunder

Jun 23, 2018 4:57 PM

LeBron James' camp has grown pessimistic that Paul George is prepared to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason.

George was traded by the Indiana Pacers to the Thunder last June 30th.

George has raved about the Thunder throughout the process and has grown close to Russell Westbrook.

George was previously reported to be determined to join the Lakers by his 2018 free agency.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue George in free agency.

Sam Amick/USA Today

Tags: Paul George, LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Carmelo Anthony Will Not Opt Out Of $27.9M Deal With Thunder

Jun 22, 2018 5:49 PM

Carmelo Anthony will not opt out of his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 18-19 season.

Anthony is owed $27.9 million next season.

The Thunder could pursue a buyout with Anthony or possibly trade him.

Oklahoma City could have a tax bill approaching $80 million if Paul George re-signs on a max salary starting at $30.3 million.

Marc Stein/New York Times

Tags: Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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2018 NBA Draft: Full Results

RealGM Staff Report

Execs Suggest Paul George Could Take One-Plus-One Deal With Thunder

Marc Stein/New York Times

Paul George, Russell Westbrook Continuing Bond In Offseason

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Rockets To Be Aggressive Pursuing Paul George

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN (via Brett Dawson/Oklahoman)