This despite Kevin Durant’s high-profile departure to Golden State – a move which was supposed to send Westbrook fleeing for greener pastures.
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The dreams of acquiring a superstar like Westbrook were fun while they lasted, but now Celtics fans will have to bury them with the Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins fantasies from the offseason.
Other reports show that Westbrook is best suited with the Thunder as the team still have some pieces to help him win.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, Durant told Gary Washburn he was “happy to see any player in this league do whatever they want to do”.
Well today there will be no more wondering, as it was revealed by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Westbrook has agreed, in principal, to a renegotiated contract that Adrian Wojnarowski states is a three-year deal worth $85-plus million. Westbrook’s salary will go from $17.8 million next season to the maximum of $26.5 million. The third year option allows players like Westbrook who finished at least 10 seasons to maximize their salary limits. You guys have basically kind of raised me. So in both the long and short runs, this is the best way for the 27-year-old Westbrook to maximize his earnings. “That’s all I’m anxious about, to find ways to come in and figure out ways to make the team become a great organization”.
If the two sides ultimately reach an extension, Westbrook would not be able to test free agency in the summer of 2017.
“There’s no need to wait when you know where you want to be”, he said. “We are thrilled he will continue with us and we look forward to exciting days ahead for the Oklahoma City Thunder”.
In his National Basketball Association career, Westbrook has averaged 21.5 points, 7.6 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 587 games while teaming up with Durant.
“As excited as I am, I’m also grateful because you have an opportunity for a legacy player to put his stamp on continuing with the organization”, Presti said. “At some point, we’ll sit down and talk”.
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We probably should’ve known that Russell Westbrook would be the loyal one. “Russell personifies numerous traits that are synonymous with Oklahoma and Oklahomans”.
