NBA free agency has been in a frenzy with different stars choosing to stay with their current teams and others who have not made their decision yet. The first big domino in the NBA has fallen, with Paul George choosing to stay as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite many thinking he would leave. The decision means a lot for the league and George, as he is a perennial star in the league.

Party was for PG

The party that Russell Westbrook held turned out to be a celebration for Paul George, as he has chosen to sign a four-year, $137 million dollar deal to stay with the Thunder, according to ESPN.

PG13 was an integral part of the Thunder as he "averaged 21.9 points on 43.0 percent shooting plus 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists...with one of his best 3-point shooting seasons to date, hitting the highest total of his career on 40.1 percent.[sic]"

The Thunder took an extreme risk in acquiring Paul George on a one-year rental, as he had expressed his love for the state of California and his desire to play for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. However, he has chosen to stay with his current team. The most surprising thing is that he is going to sign a four-year deal with a player option for the fourth season, according to USA Today.

And more than this, ESPN reports "Without taking any free-agency meetings, George made the announcement that he is staying with the Thunder at a house party in Oklahoma City hosted by Russell Westbrook." George and Westbrook took to Instagram to revel with being teammates for years to come.

It is an interesting decision by George because he could have contended for a championship with the Houston Rockets or the Philadelphia 76ers.

And PG's skill set would have fit many other teams. With this decision, he leaves the super team equation in L.A. in question and it shows that he believes in OKC, and more significantly, Russell Westbrook. Whether he will be able to win a championship in OKC will have to be seen. It seems he made the decision to stay because he and Westbrook were starting to gel toward the end of last season.

OKC fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as they will retain the star and the future looks bright in Oklahoma. This is all after Kevin Durant chose to depart from the organization, leaving it in shambles to join the Golden State Warriors.

OKC's outlook

OKC will retain the three stars that they had last season, as Carmelo Anthony opted into the last year of his contract to stay with the team. And the team will be looking for a different result than last season when they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Utah Jazz.

We all know that Paul George will be productive for the team, but the question mark is Melo, who did not do his part as he did not have a good season. Anthony had career lows in field goal percentage and overall points.

Carmelo Anthony is the missing piece with Westbrook and George forming a bond. The team will have to battle it out in the tough Western Conference with the improving Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors, as well as the up-and-coming New Orleans Pelicans.
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