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Paul George is committed to signing an agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder, said league sources to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN
without making an appointment, George announced that he would stay with the Thunder at a home party. in Oklahoma City, hosted by Russell Westbrook, sources at the confirmed party.
With many people assuming that the 1945 Los Angeles Lakers were George's indisputable favorites, his decision to stay with the Thunder is a bit of a shock. He was traded to OKC almost exactly a year ago after informing the Pacers of Indiana that he would not re-sign with him, preferring instead to join his hometown Lakers in a free agency. The Thunder spent the year recruiting George to sign up for the long term, starting with the fans who welcomed him at the airport and a welcome party organized the next day
"I have not been able to be a free agent or know it's like that and then have the chance to go where you want to go, that has always been, I think with the players, they want this option, "said George during exit interviews after the season. "But then you go into an organization where they kind of check boxes on all the things you want out of an organization, and immediately they become candidates to where you want to play in the long run. "
was the case. They honestly checked the boxes where I needed these boxes to be checked from what a player wants and needs from a reception, a medical group, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a doctor, a teammate, a personal coaching. I mean, honestly, they can not say it anymore [than]. They checked the boxes on what needs to be checked. "
The Thunder has been in contact with George since the end of the season and has been in contact with him throughout the last week, and throughout the season George has often spoken of" building "with the Thunder, evoking his joy of playing with Westbrook.
Here is the last of another thrilling season. Summer in the NBA:
"Russ is the Reason for which this decision becomes even easier to do, is the character Russ [has]"said George George Rachel Nichols at ESPN in February, standing guy, a He has the back of his teammate."
After the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony in September, the Thunder seems to have formed a great team with the MVP then in title. However, the season did not go as planned, with a bumpy start that finally stabilized in January before Andre Roberson 's shooting injury left him unprepared. derailed again. The Thunder recovered to finish with 48 wins and 4-seed of the Western Conference, but they came out in six games at Jazz in the first round. In George's last game, where Westbrook scored 46 points on 43 shots, he finished with just five shooting points of 2 of 16.
"Here they made a huge risk by trading for me, knowing that I've got one, "said George in the first part of SportsCenter's behind-the-scenes look at his free agency." But I felt that I had not finished as hard as I would have and, knowing that you left something on the table, even now, it weighs on me. "
George, an All-Star five times, He signed an unrestricted contract for the first time in his career after refusing his player option last Thursday.
With George and Carmelo Anthony under contract for next season, Thunder is heading for a massive payroll and a luxury tax, something the property is willing to pay. Thunder could take steps to reduce their financial stress r using the extended clause to relinquish Anthony or negotiate a buyout or trade (Anthony has a no-trade clause, however). The Thunder is also interested in re-signing the front Jerami Grant.
George, 28, averaged 21.9 points on 43.0 percent of shots plus 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Playing with Westbrook, George has had one of his best three-point shooting seasons so far, hitting the highest total of his career shooting 40.1%.
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