There’s a reason Westbrook didn’t answer the latter question by proclaiming he’d stay in Oklahoma City beyond his extension.
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Terms of the contract were not announced, but multiple media reports said it was for three-years and $86 million. The deal is two years with a player option for third year.
This news ends any hope the Heat had at luring Westbrook to Miami as a free agent next summer.
Westbrook is not only one of the top point guards in the National Basketball Association, he’s also one of the best players in the league.
Speaking from Brazil on Thursday, Durant told the Boston Globe that he won’t be reaching out to Westbrook anytime soon to congratulate him on signing an extension with Oklahoma City.
In Rio de Janeiro, where he is part of the US men’s Olympic team, Durant said he wouldn’t immediately be reaching out to Westbrook to discuss his decision to stay in Oklahoma City. There are plenty of reasons, but money is likely near the top of the list. He would then make $28.5 million in 2017-18 and $30.6 million in 2018-19 if he chose to opt in.
Westbrook was scheduled to make $17.8 million for the upcoming season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
In Rio de Janeiro, where he is part of the USA men’s Olympic team, Durant said he wouldn’t immediately be reaching out to Westbrook to discuss his decision to stay in Oklahoma City. We can expect tension between the two when they see each other, this time, as opponents.
Even without Durant, the Thunder have talent to go with Westbrook.
Last night there were rumors going around that Russell Westbrook would be signing an extension with OKC.
“I talked to him”.
My job is to be able to find somewhere that I want to be and want to play with a group of guys, and I figured this was the place where I wanted to be. “That’s it”, Westbrook said. Although, he and Thunder fans probably know the feeling of losing out on a franchise player they hoped would come to their team, so Kanter is at least well qualified to diagnose it in another fanbase.
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This is not the Thunder team of a few years ago.
