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Report: Thunder have better chance to re-sign George than first thought

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Penciling in soon-to-be free agent Paul George as a lock to depart Oklahoma City this summer may be ill-advised.

There's a growing belief around the NBA that the Thunder have a better chance to retain the 28-year-old All-Star than many thought was the case after they got bounced out of the first round of the playoffs, according to The New York Times' Marc Stein.

George underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee last month, posting a photo from his hospital bed of himself in good spirits. According to Stein, his willingness to publish that picture on his Instagram account has "helped fuel the notion" that he wants to stick around with the Thunder.

He's spoken highly of the city and franchise on numerous occasions, but stressed after Oklahoma City's Game 6 loss to the Utah Jazz that it was too soon to discuss his future, even though he'd "love to remain a Thunder."

The Los Angeles Lakers have long been viewed as the favorites to land the California native. Before the season even got underway, George made it clear that winning is his top priority, and how any talks or rumors of it being a foregone conclusion that he'll become a Laker are "overstated."

The 65-win Houston Rockets are also expected to aggressively pursue George, as well.

Across 79 appearances with the Thunder in 2017-18, George averaged 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and two steals while converting 40.1 percent of his 3-point attempts. He has a player option worth $20.7 million that he'll almost certainly turn down to become an unrestricted free agent.

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