George noncommittal on Pacers extension: 'I want to compete for something'

The Pacers have a significant financial advantage in their quest to keep Paul George in Indiana long term, but the All-Star forward says it's winning he values above all else.

"As I told Larry (Bird), I always want to play on a winning team," George told ESPN Radio, when asked about the potential $219 million max extension the Pacers president can offer him come July. "I always want to be part of a team that has a chance to win it (all). That's important."

The Pacers have made the playoffs in all but one of George's six seasons in Indiana, and only missed the postseason during George's injury-shortened 2014-15 campaign, when he was out for most of the year recovering from a gruesome leg injury.

But the Pacers, who advanced to the Eastern Conference final in 2013 and 2014, sit sixth place in the East standings at 29-28, which doesn't seem to jive with George's talk of title contention.

"Say what you want. I want to compete for something," George told ESPN's Marc Stein. "It's frustrating just playing the game for stats or for numbers or to showcase yourself. Man, I want a chance to play for a chance to win a championship.

"I wanted to be the first and want to be the first to be able to bring a championship to Indiana. So that's still on my mind ... and something I definitely want to achieve in Indiana."

Whether the Pacers can sign George to a mammoth extension this summer, the four-time All-Star is still under contract for at least another season, making any blockbuster trade scenarios unlikely in the short term. The 26-year-old is set to earn more than $19.5 million in 2017-18, with a $20.7-million player option for 2018-19.