Paul George says he is committed to playing for the Indiana Pacers next season.

After that, it's anybody's guess.

The four-time All-Star forward provided clarity on his short-term plan Thursday before playing in a charity softball game just a short walk away from the only NBA arena he's called home.

"I am a Pacer. I am under contract, and I intend to play,'' George said while sitting in the first-base dugout.

George's succinct message might satisfy Pacers fans temporarily, though the much larger question looms: Will he continue to suit up in Indiana beyond 2017-18?

If he doesn't sign the max contract former president of basketball operations Larry Bird had promised before July 2018, George could become one of the most coveted free agents on the market next summer.

He has averaged 18.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over seven NBA seasons and is considered one of the best two-way players in the league.

The past two seasons have been the best of his career. Since returning for the final six games of the 2014-15 season, after gruesomely breaking his left leg, George has taken his game to new heights. He averaged 23.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 2015-16.

Last season, he scored 23.7 points and grabbed 6.6 rebounds per game, not quite enough to earn a spot on the three all-NBA teams and perhaps costing him an additional $75 million from the Pacers.

All of those factors, and George's occasional dissatisfaction with what has gone on inside the organization, has led to speculation that the 27-year-old star could sign with his hometown team and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to another title.

Paul George's contract expires after next season, and the Pacers All-Star could be one of the most coveted free agents on the market. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Over the past four months, George has seemingly heard it all.

At the February trade deadline, there was speculation that he could be headed to Boston or Atlanta. This offseason, rumors have surfaced with all sorts of possibilities: Indiana dealing George to Cleveland for Kevin Love, trading George to the Celtics for the top pick in next week's draft, even George and LeBron James pairing up with the Lakers after next season.

George doesn't buy any of them.

"They're all crazy,'' he said. "But all are to be expected. I've been dealing with this since last season, but I'm just living in the moment.''

But Indiana fans and Pacers executives are still searching for answers about George's long-term plan.

Kevin Pritchard, Bird's successor as the team's top decision-maker, and coach Nate McMillan need to know how to proceed during this crucial summer. So far, George hasn't said much publicly.

He has, however, met with Pritchard and McMillan multiple times. George said he has reiterated his desire to lead the Pacers to an NBA title and provided insight on what he believes the team needs to make it happen.

Indiana struggled after the All-Star break last season before clinching the No. 7 seed in the final week of the regular season. Cleveland then eliminated the Pacers with a first-round sweep -- four wins by a combined total of 16 points -- on its way to a third straight Eastern Conference crown.

George nixed the notion of joining the Cavaliers and teaming up with James.

"I don't talk to LeBron at all. We don't communicate," George said. "I look up to LeBron, obviously. He's been a tremendous ambassador to this game. He's been a very huge influencer for me outside of the game, but we don't communicate and figure out where one another's going."

George believes making the right moves in next week's draft and in the free-agent market could allow the Pacers to close the gap and perhaps even dethrone James' team.

"In ways, I feel like we are close,'' George said. "It's hard not to believe that because we did the best against Cleveland of anyone [in the East] and we could have won that series. At the same time, we need some more talent, we need better players.''

Pritchard has not taken questions since his promotion was announced May 1.

McMillan didn't divulge much about those conversations during a brief interview either.

"I'm absolutely not surprised he said that,'' McMillan said, referring to George's definitive answer about this coming season. "I expected him to say that.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.