Hours after the Oklahoma City Thunder signed Russell Westbrook to a five-year contract extension worth $205 million, considered as the biggest guaranteed contract in NBA history, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James extended his congratulations to the reigning MVP via his Twitter account. "Congrats to my G [Russell Westbrook] on that bag!!! OKC got a great one!! (Like they don't already know)," James wrote on his Twitter account.
Congrats to my G @russwest44 on that bag!!! OKC got a great one!!(like they don't already know)🤷🏾♂️ #WhyNot
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 29, 2017
Earlier, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Westbrook agreed to a contract extension, which will give him a total of guaranteed $233 million, including his $28 million salary for the 2017-18 season with the Thunder.
The 32-year-old James, for his part, can equal or surpass Westbrook’s contract if he signs a long-term agreement with the Cavaliers after this season. If he declines the player option in his contract for 2018, James can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. James will earn $33.3 million for the coming season and he’s assured of guaranteed $35.6 million if he exercises his player option for 2018.
Lakers’ super team now dead
With Westbrook’s signing, the rumors connecting James and the Thunder point guard to a super team with the Los Angeles Lakers are now dead. Earlier, it was reported that Westbrook was having second thoughts about signing a long-term deal with the Thunder as he was also interested in joining James in Los Angeles.
James was also interested in teaming up with Westbrook, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Now that Westbrook’s signed to a long-term deal, the Thunder are hoping that Paul George will follow suit. The Thunder traded Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers for George despite knowing that the All-Star small forward has one year remaining on his contract.
The Thunder recently shipped to Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick to the New York Knicks for All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.
James day to day due to ankle injury
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, James suffered an ankle injury during their first day of practice and is listed as day to day. McMenamin reported that X-rays came back negative after he rolled his left ankle.
Last season, James averaged 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. He led the Cavaliers to their third straight NBA Finals appearance but they lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games. James will try to continue the Cavaliers’ domination in the Eastern Conference together with fellow All-Star Dwyane Wade, who signed a one-year deal worth $2.3 million after getting his buyout from the Chicago Bulls.