Report: Pacers, George had initial talks on contract extension

The Indiana Pacers are hoping to lock in their franchise player through the decade.

Paul George told Bob Kravitz of WHTR that he and the Pacers had initial conversations on a contract extension, although Kravitz warns that the talks weren't extensive.

George, who has spent his entire six-year NBA career with Indiana, is under contract for three more seasons (although final year of his deal is a player option). He wouldn't become a free agent until at least 2018, and the Pacers should feel confident in their chances of retaining the former 10th overall pick.

However, the Pacers could offer George a significant raise on his contract if the two sides were to work out an extension under the new salary cap (similar to how the Thunder were able to extend Russell Westbrook). George signed a maximum deal in 2013, but the cap projects to be nearly double that amount in 2017.

George is on the books for $19.5 million for the 2017-18 season, but were he to sign an extension at the maximum annual salary in 2017, he could potentially bump his salary to over $30 million.

Granted, the Pacers wouldn't be able to offer that deal until at least next summer, and with the current CBA set to expire, contractual restrictions might have changed by the time George inks his next contract.

But for the time being, contract talks hint toward a happy union between George and the Pacers.

The 26-year-old George is representing Team USA at the Olympic Games. He averaged 23.1 points, seven rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game last season.