Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Report: Russell Westbrook’s extension could be finalized within 48 hours, but Thunder haven’t set deadline

Oklahoma City Thunder v Golden State Warriors - Game Seven

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 30: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on prior to Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 30, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Russell Westbrook is reportedly in “serious talks” with the Thunder on a renegotiation-and-extension.

A resolution could come soon.

Chris Broussard and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:

All-Star guard Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder are in serious negotiations on a three-year max extension worth more than $85 million, which could be finalized within the next 48 hours, league sources told ESPN.
The source added that Oklahoma City is not giving Westbrook a hard deadline by which he must agree to the extension.

If a deal is expected within a couple days, of course the Thunder aren’t imposing a deadline. There’s no better use for their $8,770,726 in cap space than renegotiating-and-extending Westbrook’s deal. They’d gain team control over a superstar player, position themselves to attract outside help and, if it comes to it, improve value of a trade chip. Westbrook could probably take a week or two.

But, at some point, Oklahoma City will want to know where it stands. If Westbrook rejects a raise of nearly $9 million just to hit free agency a year sooner, that would say something. It wouldn’t mean Westbrook would absolutely leave the Thunder next summer, but it’d at least be an indicator and should make them think harder about trading him.

We’re a long way from that, though. Right now, an extension looks probable.