We can put those Paul George to the Lakers rumors to rest for at least the next 3 to five years, or until George gets an opt out clause.
On the heels of George saying it would be hard to say no to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers if they came calling in unrestricted free agency, Pacers president, Larry Bird, made it very clear on Thursday that Indiana would match any offer for George next summer.
“We’re trying to sign Paul,” Larry Bird told 1070 The Fan, Indianapolis. “It’s not as easy as it looks. We’re going to make a major offer to him. It’s going to be up to him whether he accept or not or goes out into the free-agency market. If he does, we’re going to match. But we’d like to get something done. We know he wants to be here. He’s a great kid. He’s one of the nicest young men you’ll ever meet, and he’s a good player. And we think we should take care of him.”
If the Pacers re-sign George before October 31, the deal can be for five more seasons. If George chooses to wait until next summer and makes All NBA, he can get an even larger extension.
Regardless, Paul George will be a Pacer for a few more years.