When the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2017 offseason, it was because the All-Star small forward told them of his intentions to leave in 2018 free agency.

Judging by reports, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that George was going to sign with the hometown Los Angeles Lakers. But after a productive season with the Thunder, George passed on free agency and signed a four-year, $137 million monster extension instead.

In a recent interview on ESPN's The Undefeated, George opened up about his decision to stay with Oklahoma City, and that he would have signed with the Lakers if the Pacers held onto him for one more year.

"It was 50-50 on deciding whether I wanted to come back home or if it was smarter to be in the situation I am in now," George said. "But it wasn't overstated. I wanted to play in L.A. That is where I wanted to go. Had that trade never went down, had I played one more year in Indy, I would have been in a Lakers uniform."

RELATED: JOSH HART SAYS JAMES HARDEN IS HARDER TO GUARD THAN LEBRON JAMES

Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The decision to trade George - rather than take one last run at playoffs with him - turned out to be the right call for the Pacers. They landed Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis from the Thunder in exchange for George.

Oladipo guided the Pacers to the playoffs last year, averaging 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. The Thunder got a new superstar to complement Russell Westbrook, so it was really a win-win for both sides.

The Lakers wound up winning the LeBron James sweepstakes, but the front office was unable to find another superstar to work alongside him. Surely, George and James would have been quite the dynamic duo to watch together.

But just as the Lakers felt as though George would sign here in free agency, he decided to stay with Westbrook and the Thunder, a decision that wound up surprising many. The Lakers' search for LeBron's sidekick will continue into 2019 free agency.

NEXT: KLAY THOMPSON SAYS THEY WANT THREE-PEAT FOR OAKLAND FANS