Report: Thunder, George agree to 4-year, $137M deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Paul George have agreed to terms on a four-year, $137-million contract, with a player option in Year 4, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Locking up George long-term is a massive win for the Thunder, even if it puts them in luxury tax hell. They seemed in serious danger of losing him for nothing after flaming out in the first round of the playoffs last year, a scenario that would've been an abject disaster after they surrendered Victor Oldadipo and Domantas Sabonis to get him last summer for what would've been just one underwhelming year in partnership with Russell Westbrook.

For a long time, it seemed like he was destined to sign with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, for whom he'd openly dreamed of playing. Then, rumors started to swirl that he was considering returning to OKC on a short-term deal that would've seen him re-enter free agency in 2019 or 2020.

In the end, George agreed to return for at least three years, without even taking a meeting with a rival team.