Westbrook extension

Was just about to post the same. ESPN has the same I formation.

Fantastic deal for him and great news for the Thunder!! On paper it’s only a one year raise in contract length with increased salary but in 2018 as a ten year vet he can sign a super max deal like KD will next summer. 

I’m extremely happy Presti could work this out and am excited for a historic season from Russ. He for sure will go bananas stat wise and I still believe this team is good enough to make some noise in the postseason. 

 Glad to see our generations"Big O" stay loyal to his team and not burn them also

 Glad to see our generations"Big O" stay loyal to his team and not burn them also

 Good for Westbrook. He wastes prime years of his career playing for a team going no where. Atleast he won’t have to pass KD the ball anymore.

Great news for OKC fans, look like Westbrook is committing to them. At worse it increases his trade value as he is now locked down for another guaranteed year.

I wonder if Westbrook might look to get a no trade clause inserted too, so he can totally control his own destiny.

This is why it is good OKC didn’t panic. I am sure Westbrook is looking forward to this opportunity. Some of the criticism of him and his dynamic with Durant was over the top. Some was fair, but it clearly went too far. It is a good chance for him to try and lead a team he is familiar with, as well as one that still has a lot of talent and versatility to play a lot of different ways.  

I love this. I know its very early to speak about him staying in OKC for his career but him signing the extension means hes serious about this team and if he opts out and signs a max deal with them starting in 2018-2019 his 5 year deal has a max of 203 million dollars. The deal would start off at 35 mil in 2018 and rise to 46 million in 2021! I know its early but if someone throws 200 million at you how could you walk away from it?

 Depending on how the new pieces fit and perform I still envision the Thunder somewhere between the 4 and 6 spot in the playoffs. Having only one ball stopper rather than two will be an interesting change. Other guys will have to attack on offense for the team to be successful.

1. Good for OKC and their front office

2. Good for Westbrook to secure an extra year at a higher pay scale, he’ll need some insurance just in case he gets banged up carrying the load in Okalahoma City

3. Bad for Boston Celtic fans who were all but fittng their Westbrook Celtics jersies lololol…I remember someone talking about it as if it were 100% certainty the deal was done…

4. Good for the Western Conference, another Team secures it’s identity out the wild wild West, I want to see the Thunder push the Warrrors in the 1st or 2nd of the Playoffs this year, along with Portland who also signed all their young guys the West Coast can be the at forefront of the Youth Movement (Denver, Minnesota, Phoenix, Utah, throw a few East Coast teams like the Bucks, Pistons and 76ers in their too Lol)

5. Westbrook sets himself nicely to join a Power House in 2018, gives the Thunder 2 more Great Years going for KD’s throat and probally looking at the Entire NBA landscape in the summer of 18′ before making his final decision…Just think of the Teams who’ll be hitting their full stride like a LA/Boston/Philadelphia/Minnesota/Milwuakee, he could shock us all and go somewhere we never expected ala KD but the inverse…

Imagine he signs a Mega Deal with Philadelphia to play with a young but seasoned Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric and Nerlens Noel, picture Westbrook running the break with a Justin Jackson/Lonzo Ball in the backcourt…Picture him in Minnesota with KAT/Wiggins/Lavine and Dunn, picture him in Milwuakee with Giannis and Jabarri, or back home with Ingram and Randle, Russell and Clarkson… 

 Nobody would give him a hard time if he left considering KD stranded him. It could it be that Westbrook has always been the leader of the Sonics/Thunder.

 Good for Westbrook.  Good for the Thunder.  Pretty good for the league, too.  He might be the only guy who can (singlehandedly) derail the Warriors out West.  Not saying they will, or even that they CAN, but you would at least think about it.

OKC could be the 2nd best team in the West this year.  Who knows?  Big drop off after the Warriors, and I am not sold on the Duncan-less Spurs.  The Spurs had a GREAT regular season, but flamed out in the playoffs.  Plus, losing Duncan means they are a little less tough inside, a little less stout on interior defense, and they lose their go-to low post scorer.  

I am picking Westbrook to win the 2016-2017 MVP award (slightly ahead or tied with LeBron).  Yeah, he is a triple double threat — but maybe he also takes a run at being the first (and only guy) since Tiny Archibald to lead the league in Points AND Assists in the same season.  He could be THAT good this year.

HIGHLY doubtful that Steph wins 3 straight MVP awards.  LeBron might not get enough minutes… he got the HUGE burden off his back, maybe he paces himself (a bit more) this year.

 I like the notion that he’s staying but aren’t we getting a little too far ahead of things. 

The way I look at this new deal is it is basically a one year trial run giving Westy the opportunity to recruit players to OKC and for the Thunder to see what this version of "his team" looks like. 

I guess I wouldn’t be shocked if that a year from now, the Thunder don’t sign anyone to play with him and they are fielding trade calls again because he’ll be able to exercise an opt out the following summer. 

Isn’t that more what this deal is? I feel like people are making a bigger deal of this with regards to the long-term. Maybe I’m way overthinking it though. 

 I agree with Christopher Biggie Wallace. The contract only guarantees one more year. This from the media perspective makes Russell the Hero and KD the villian. If Russell leaves in 2 years OKC will see him as a hero and thank him and wont be mad at him like the hatred kevin durant got. Good move from westbrook. He said in his presser tht he knows he wants to be in okc, so if you really know then sign a 5 year deal. It is a buisness move to set him up for the 10 year veteran deal and a 5 year 200 mil contract in 2 years and gain him respect and fan support

 Westbrook will surely be a great bet for next season’s scoring title, he averaged 28ppg in 2014-15 when KD was injured and if we assume at GSW that Steph Curry MVP and KD will get less shots than they did individually before. LBJ will have his minutes watched to certain extent too.

So it might be a shoot out between Westbrook and Harden given the amount they will get the ball next year.

Good move for Westbrook. Not only does it make him look better compared to Durant, but it’s also This is the most lucrative option.

I heard on the Zach Lowe podcast that he’s eligible for the Veteran pay bump after 2018. Once you’re in the league for over 10 years, you can garner more money in FA… something like that. 

Russ going Super Saiyan all year confirmed.