The Oklahoma City Thunder are waiting for Russell Westbrook to reply on their most recent offer for a contract extension. According to a report by Royce Young of ESPN, general manager Sam Presti said the Thunder are currently not negotiating with Westbrook about a possible contract extension. Presti added that the team is just simply waiting for a reply from the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player (MVP) about their latest offer.
Recently, the Houston Rockets gave James Harden a record contract extension worth $228 million but according to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman, Westbrook’s contract extension could top Harden’s deal with the Rockets.
Westbrook could earn $235 million from contract extension
Horne reported that in addition to Westbrook’s $28.5 million salary in 2017-18, he will receive an estimated $207 million over the length of the extension until the 2022-23 season, giving him a total of around $235 million. Harden, for his part, received an additional four years and $170 million on top of the existing two years and $59 million on his current deal, per ESPN.
On July 1, Sam Amick of USA Today reported that Westbrook isn’t expected to sign a contract extension with the Thunder but the offer will remain on the table until Westbrook puts pen on paper. Westbrook, who has a player option for the 2018-19 season worth $30.5 million, has played his first nine seasons with the Thunder after he was taken fourth overall in the 2008 Draft.
Thunder pulled off biggest offseason surprise
Recently, the Thunder pulled off the biggest acquisition in the offseason by getting Paul George from the Indiana Pacers. Oklahoma City shipped guard Victor Oladipo and power forward Domantas Sabonis to the Pacers for George. George’s arrival will make Westbrook happy as the Thunder emerge as a serious contender in the Western Conference.
Last season, the Thunder made it to the playoffs despite losing Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors.
The Thunder also re-signed shooting guard Andre Roberson to a three-year, $30 million deal and acquired veteran guard Raymond Felton and Patrick Patterson from the free-agent market. A 12-year veteran, Felton signed a one-year deal worth $2.3 million to serve as Russell’s backup.
Last season, the 33-year-old Felton averaged 6.7 points and 2.4 assists with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Patterson signed a three-year, $16.4 million deal with the Thunder after 3 ½-year stint with the Toronto Raptors. During his time in Toronto, Patterson averaged 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and shot 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
