Paul George going back to the Thunder

Deathofthebambino

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Apr 12, 2005
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Being reported by ESPN right now. Kind of shocked by this, and I think most folks are. George told the world he wanted to play with his hometown team, and he re-commits to the Thunder without even meeting with the Lakers.

Wow, let's hear your thoughts on this, and how it affects Lebron's destination, and everyone else this offseason.
 

ElUno20

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Jul 19, 2005
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Guessing LeBron and Magic have a backup plan.

May help the spurs in bleeding them dry for Leonard
 

RG33

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Nov 28, 2005
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Exhibit A Your Honor why I am not worried about giving up assets for Kawhi Leonard.
 

Tony C

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Kawhi (for assets) could turn out better; Boogie maybe maybe could be better if he's back in form and hungry. But PG was the safe/steady (and quite studly) option. The Lakers other LeBron+ options now come with a lot of crazy downside.
 

Kliq

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The Paul extension is insane for a guy with his injury history and age. I can’t see how that contract isn’t an albatross by the end unless D’Antoni really starts micro managing his minutes.
 

nighthob

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Jul 15, 2005
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I’m guessing they told George no because they chose Boogie instead.
Doubtful. As hard is it might be to believe, he might just like playing in OKC. It’s basically like playing in front of a college crowd every night. And if they assured him that the Melo experiment is coming to an end he’s in a pretty good spot.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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They resigned Jerami Grant for 3/$27M too. All of which means they are in repeater tax territory and looking at a tax bill of something north of $130M. Again, that's the tax bill, not the payroll. Moving on from 'Melo would help that, but trading him without taking on salary is going to mean giving up draft picks, which limits their ability to add talent. They could buy him out and then stretch him, which offers some relief.

I guess there is nothing else to do in OK City.

As for PG, it is weird he didn't get a 2 year opt-out to get a chance to resign as a 10-yeqr vet. Also, it's so weird that he turned down a 210+M max extension because he wanted to play for the Lakers but then he signs with OKC before he finds out what LNJ does.

As for the team, this Ringer article says it all: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/7/1/17521718/paul-george-oklahoma-city-thunder-free-agency-russell-westbrook.
 

Tony C

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my brain says it's a lose-lose -- PG13 will be 2nd fiddle on a team that will fight each year for the #4 seed give or take. OKC..well, same deal. Would have had a lot of respect for either going all in -- PG13 to a team with championship ambitions and the Thunder to burn it down.

That said, I do see it from OKC's perspective much more: particularly in a market like that putting out a competitive product every night is a reasonable goal. And, hey, maybe post-Carmelo something falls their way.

George I don't see at all. Does he not remember their elimination game against the Jazz? Is that really what he wants? Because it won't change -- that's who/what Westbrook is. That's what the Thunder are. It's sort of pathetic to settle for that.
 

AMS25

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Holland on the Plains
That's what the Thunder are. It's sort of pathetic to settle for that.
I think that many have forgotten that the Thunder lost a key piece in the middle of the year -- Andre Roberson. The team seemed to be gelling right before that injury occurred. I realize that Westbrook is a controversial figure, but he should not be blamed for injuries, Carmelo's declining skill set, or Paul George's streaky shooting. I actually think that if Roberson comes back at full strength and the team ditches Carmelo, it might be better this year than last.

From the perspective of the Thunder front office, George's decision to stay is a triumph. Fans will continue to buy tickets (most of the games are sell-outs), and OKC can claim to be a legitimate free agent destination.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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I actually think that if Roberson comes back at full strength and the team ditches Carmelo, it might be better this year than last.
FTFY.

So I think I finally understand why PG has an opt-out after year 3. Woj has a tweet (linked below) that says, "Here's essence of Paul George's 4-year, $137M deal, w/ player option: New CBA allows George to extend after 2nd anniversary of deal. Extending on max w/ OKC after year 2, while also opting out of final year, could make this 7-year, $290M-plus deal based on future cap projections." So opt-out after 3rd year gives PG all of the leverage. If he had a two-year opt-out and OKC didn't want to extend him, they'd let him walk. This way, PG gets to say to OKC, "Extend me or I'm leaving for nothing next year." It seems terribly unlikely that OKC won't extent PG after year 2.