The Oklahoma City Thunder no longer have to sweat because Russell Westbrook has reportedly agreed to a contract extension.
When Kevin Durant shockingly chose the Golden State Warriors in free agency, the Thunder turned their sights to Russell Westbrook. OKC pushed for a contract extension with Westbrook this season as he was set to become a free agent next summer. Had he not agreed, there were reports that OKC would possibly seek a trade in order to prevent him from walking away with them getting nothing in return like Durant.
Westbrook has agreed to a three-year, $85 million-plus maximum contract renegotiation, league sources told The Vertical.
Westbrook will be under contract for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons and will hold a player option for the 2018-19 season, league sources said.
In the most likely scenario, Westbrook will become an unrestricted free agent in 2018 again.
In the structure of the renegotiation, Westbrook’s salary in 2016-17 increases from $17.8 million to a $26.5 million max salary, $28.5 million in 2017-18, and includes a player option for $30.6 million in the third year.
Everyone has always talked about Westbrook taking over when Durant is the franchise star, now the team is definitely his.
