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

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.