The Oklahoma City Thunder and superstar guard Russell Westbrook have come to terms on a three-year, $85 million contract extension.
It's official! Thunder signs Russell Westbrook to contract extension. News release: https://t.co/IawHudCXAH pic.twitter.com/AETJ1yZ5U0
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 4, 2016
Westbrook, 27, will have a player option that would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018.
Sources on @TheVertical: Russell Westbrook, Thunder reach agreement on three-year, $85M-plus contract renegotiation. https://t.co/cScRJ9ItDX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) August 4, 2016
Stop refreshing the page Lol
it's true 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WxyZUHImWN— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) August 4, 2016
— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) August 4, 2016
With Kevin Durant no longer in the picture, the Thunder are placing fortunes of the franchise in Westbrook’s hands.
Per Yahoo:
Westbrook, a five-time All-Star, and his agent, Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group, are planning to fly to Oklahoma City on Thursday morning, sign the deal and likely hold a news conference with Thunder ownership and executives, league sources said.
For the Thunder, the Westbrook commitment is a significant statement in the wake of star Kevin Durant’s departure for the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook is no longer a free agent in the summer of 2017, and Thunder GM Sam Presti and coach Billy Donovan have a longer window to continue improving the Thunder roster around Westbrook without the fear of losing him in free agency.
In the wake of Durant’s departure, Westbrook new deal could be instrumental in recruiting another elite free agent to the Thunder’s talented core next summer. Oklahoma native Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers will be a serious target for the Thunder, league sources said. […] Westbrook is already fond of the returning core of talent in Oklahoma City, including center Steven Adams, guard Victor Oladipo and center Enes Kanter. Westbrook has been working out for the past several days in Los Angeles with Oladipo, with Billy Donovan in the gymnasium, league sources said.
