Indiana Pacers star Paul George has three years remaining on a contract with a player option for the final year in 2018-19, but a new report states that the two sides have already begun discussing an extension.
Paul George told me here in Rio there have been some initial talks about a contract extension with the Pacers, but nothing extensive.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) August 4, 2016
George signed his current contract on Sept. 25, 2013, and he can’t sign an extension until three years after that date. The rules for signing extensions under the NBA’s CBA are complicated, although it doesn’t sound like either George or the Pacers are in a rush to get this done now.
George, 26, is in Rio representing Team USA at the Olympics after a terrific comeback season in 2015-16. He averaged a career-best 23.1 points per game in his first full season after breaking his leg during the 2014 offseason. That appears to be enough for the Pacers to make a long-term investment with the salary cap set to stabilize after sky-rocketing this summer.
George would be the third superstar to sign an extension during the offseason. Russell Westbrook re-upped with Oklahoma City by signing a three-year, $85 million deal and James Harden signed a four-year, $118 million contract with the Houston Rockets. George is one of the best young players in the game, and an extension would top off an already-impressive offseason by the Pacers, who were active in trades and free agency after hiring new coach Nate McMillan.
