Thunder Journal: ESPN to chronicle Paul George’s free agency, Page
Last year, the Thunder moved in secret to acquire Paul George.
This summer, whatever George does in determining his future will be under a spotlight.
ESPN will feature the Oklahoma City forward — and presumptive free agent — in a three-part “SportsCenter” series starting Tuesday called “Paul George: My Journey” that will offer an inside look into his offseason.
The series debuts during Tuesday’s 5 p.m. “SportsCenter” with an episode that ESPN said in a release will detail George’s rise to stardom.
The second part of the series will air during the 5 p.m. “SportsCenter” on Thursday and will focus on George’s “off-court pursuits as he prepares to build on his career,” according the the release.
Sometime after George makes public a decision about his basketball future, the third part will air and “give viewers a look at what’s next for George and how he arrived at his ultimate decision,” according to the release.
Each part will run for about six minutes each, and the series will be available on other “SportsCenter” editions and on other ESPN and digital platforms after its TV debut.
George has one year remaining on his contract but can and is expected to opt out of that year this week. He would become a free agent on July 1.
The Thunder hopes to re-sign George, and the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make a strong pitch for the All-Star forward, who grew up in Palmdale, California,, about 65 miles north of L.A.
Report: Griffin joining Toronto Raptors
Adrian Griffin, a Thunder assistant coach for the past two seasons, is leaving to join the Toronto Raptors’ staff, according to a report on Monday.
Yahoo Sports reported that Griffin will join new Raptors head coach Nick Nurse as the Raptors’ top assistant. Griffin has worked as an assistant to Billy Donovan since 2016.
In a nine-year NBA career, Griffin played for the Celtics, Mavericks, Rockets, Bulls and SuperSonics. He began his coaching career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008 and also coached for the Bulls and Magic before joining the Thunder.
It’s not the Thunder’s only departure this offseason. OKC assistant Royal Ivey left the Thunder earlier this month to join David Fizdale’s first staff with the New York Knicks.
The Thunder didn’t hire an assistant last offseason to replace Anthony Grant, who left Donovan’s staff to become the head coach at Dayton, Grant’s alma mater.
Lakers go local in apparent leaked pitch
George’s Palmdale roots might play a part in the Lakers’ attempts to lure him to Los Angeles.
Sports Illustrated on Monday posted what it said was a leaked script for “a voiceover the Lakers plan on using with video” in a recruiting pitch. Because the script references Palmdale, the target is assumed to be George.
The script references a player who was “just a kid” and was “dreaming from Palmdale.”
“While you dreamt, we built — built for your arrival,” the leaked script reads. “And while we dreamt, you built too; becoming one of the world’s greatest.”
The script concludes saying the most powerful dreams are “the ones we realize ourselves” and “That kid from Palmdale always knew it; now the world will too.”