With the free agency period now just days away, one of the most coveted names set to hit the market has confirmed he will become available once the clock hits midnight on July 1.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, OKC Thunder forward Paul George has informed the team that he will opt out of the final year of his deal and become an unrestricted free agent:
Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George has informed franchise officials that he will not be opting in for the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN.
However, just because Paul George will opt out of his current deal doesn’t rule out a return to the Thunder, which is still very much in play. This merely means George is seeking a new contract, whether it be from OKC or elsewhere, as opposed to playing for the final $20.7 million left on his deal in 2018-19.
With George now set on exploring the open market, the 6-foot-9 forward is in line for a lucrative payday. Though there have been rumblings of tertiary suitors, it appears the primary two candidates for George’s services next season remain the Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Though George made a promise last summer to join the Lakers this offseason, this scenario is far from certain and Los Angeles is starting to feel the pressure. The Lakers are motivated to add stars the next two summers and LA-native Paul George is one of the primary names on their wishlist.
While the Lakers’ end goal is to add Paul George in conjunction with either Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James, PG’s opting out does nothing to better their chances. Sure there is a chance that George does end up going through on his agreement and singing with LA, but him staying put in OKC on a brand new deal also remains a very real possibility.