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It goes without saying that Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George is one of the most talented players in the NBA. He will also be one of the most coveted free agents this summer. Last year, George indicated that he would leave the Indiana Pacers to join the Los Angeles Lakers when he became an unrestricted free agent, prompting his former team to trade him to the Thunder.
The Thunder are a viable championship contender and they look to pose a true threat to the Golden State Warriors this year. Still, there are doubts if George will sign with Oklahoma City in the summer.
As a matter of fact, there are some concerns if the Thunder can afford to sign him without any future implications, according to Reddit user FlameOfWar.
Very simply said, OKC's luxury tax payments will be insane next year if they keep Paul George. If OKC re-signs PG to his max and replaces their free agents with minimums, they will pay $115 MIL IN LUXURY TAX ALONE! That would be
almost triplethe highest amount paid in league history and will not happen.
This definitely puts things into perspective. The Cleveland Cavaliers already pay an exorbitant amount in luxury tax every year and could be in trouble if they offer George a max contract — although they're not considered part of the sweepstakes as of now.
The Thunder have given pricey contracts to Steven Adams and Russell Westbrook. They have also taken on the contract of Carmelo Anthony. Signing George won't be impossible, but it could affect the Thunder's finances, forcing them to make tough roster decisions.
Therefore, don't count on George staying in Oklahoma City unless the Thunder can somehow make the space for him before he chooses to go somewhere else. However, a championship could change things up drastically.
