With the new agreement, Westbrook will be locked in for two more years with a third year player option, which works out perfectly for him financially.
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After the 2016-2017 season, the extension deal will make Westbrook’s salary jump to more than $26 million which is the maximum amount allowable. However, multiple reports, including the Associated Press, have said that it’s a three-year deal worth $85 million.
According to Russell Westbrook, that’s the moment he learned he would no longer be teammates with Durant.
Westbrook will hold a player option for the third year of the deal, allowing him the ability to terminate the contract early – after the 2017-18 season – and enter free agency in 2018.
On the other hand, the news of the Russell Westbrook re-signing with the Thunder is a blow to several teams that were linked to him. According to Tony Heim of Thunderous Intensions, the Thunder should target Griffin or Butler to pair with Westbrook. Westbrook didn’t include a caption or text officially announcing his contract extension, but the timing of the post implied he is indeed staying in Oklahoma City for the time being. He also averaged 7.8 rebounds per game last season.
And with Kevin Durant now with the Warriors, those numbers should now increase.
For the casual basketball and Thunder fan, it’s one of those decisions that don’t really make the most sense considering that he could have opted to play the year out and sign somewhere else more lucrative.
Naturally, there is a lot expected from the eight-year player as Westbrook will undoubtedly be the top player in the team. We’ll be sure to see over the next 2 seasons, when Westbrook and Durant will go head-to-head at least 3 times per season.
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Locking up the five-time All-Star was crucial for the Thunder after the loss of Durant. “Russell personifies numerous traits that are synonymous with Oklahoma and Oklahomans”.
