NBA Free Agency 2018: 10 biggest player option decisions

2. Paul George

Many suitors patiently await to offer Paul George the max if he elects to opt-out of his potential $20,703,384 contract for next year. The 28-year-old wing is the most coveted free agent behind LeBron James this offseason. The sweepstakes includes a generational player that offers lockdown defense and offensive chutzpah. Last season, he shot 40 percent from distance and 62 percent around the rim.

The Thunder hope to convince him to opt-in to continue to pursue the Batman-Robin duo him and Russell Westbrook founded after the trade to acquire George a year ago. The pairing relieves Westbrook of the pressure to shoulder the majority of the load and adds arguably the best two-way player in the league on a night-in, night-out basis. His talent is great enough to receive a max contract if he stays another year in Oklahoma City.

Despite there being only nine teams that hold the cap flexibility to sign a franchise player, franchises generally find a way to create cap space out of thin air if needed to sign a max-level free agent of George’s caliber. The Lakers have publicly shown interest in courting the perennial All-Star back to the place he grew up in while several other teams have privately been scheming to solicit his services.

George’s future hangs in the balance of several difficult decisions. Staying with the Thunder, he attempts to tackle the daunting West one more time with Brodie and a surrounding cast including Steven Adams. Electing to opt-out, George has the NBA at his will post-LeBron decision.