Thunder sign Russell Westbrook to multi-year extension!

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Russell Westbrook to a multi-year extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Multiple reports say the deal is for five years and $78 million.

“We are thrilled to solidify Russell’s future with the Thunder,” said Presti. “Since we arrived in Oklahoma City, Russell’s work ethic, persistence, character, and involvement in our community have helped us establish the standards that we are committed to on a day-to-day basis. He is a valued member of our organization and we look forward to his continued contributions on and off the floor.”

Read more: [url]http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=9095#ixzz1jviPej8t[/url]

So two games go him an extension?

Damn, so I guess he didn't want to try to get the Derrick Rose rule extension...still a nice check though.

[QUOTE=MeLO MvP 15]Good for OKC. I thought OKC was offering $80 mil and Westbrook wanted like $90 though. [COLOR="White"]*Waits for Jeff to edit this with a link to insidehoops.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Tenchi Ryu]Damn, so I guess he didn't want to try to get the Derrick Rose rule extension...still a nice check though.[/QUOTE]

It wasn't possible for OKC to pay him any more than they did in this deal. Teams are only allowed one "designated player," and Durant already took that slot for the Thunder.

[QUOTE=MeLO MvP 15]Good for OKC.[U] I thought OKC was offering $80 mil and Westbrook wanted like $90 though.[/U] [COLOR="White"]*Waits for Jeff to edit this with a link to insidehoops.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
That isn't possible under the CBA. Westbrook was only eligible for a 25% max contract, Durant was eligible for the 30% max.

Glad to see him get paid and give somewhat of a discount, considering he could have gotten more if he drug out the process. OKCs FO knows what they are doing, extending durant and then Westbrook quick and quietly

[QUOTE=KBryant24][B]Glad to see him get paid and give somewhat of a discount, considering he could have gotten more if he drug out the process.[/B] OKCs FO knows what they are doing, extending durant and then Westbrook quick and quietly[/QUOTE]

I wish people understood that this could not happen. I know there have been reports out there claiming that Russ was demanding more, but unfortunately those reports didn't understand the changes in the CBA.

Nice to see that OKC has two stars in their rein for the foreseeable future.
But I wonder what the Thunder's cap look like now.

[QUOTE=FireDavidKahn]That isn't possible under the CBA. Westbrook was only eligible for a 25% max contract, Durant was eligible for the 30% max.[/QUOTE]
would westbrook have been eligible for 30% if he made it to the allstar game again this year?

[QUOTE=KBryant24]would westbrook have been eligible for 30% if he made it to the allstar game again this year?[/QUOTE]
No, you have to be named an all star starter twice (there are other conditions as well) while on your rookie contract to get the 30% max

[url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A2KJhq2lXRhPEwQAkAC8vLYF?slug=aw-wojnarowski_russell_westbrook_thunder_contract_nba_011912[/url]

[QUOTE=FireDavidKahn]No, you have to be named an all star starter twice (there are other conditions as well) while on your rookie contract to get the 30% max[/QUOTE]
There were 3 possible ways to get it...

You either had to become MVP

Make Allstar Starter twice

or [B]Make the All NBA TEAM twice[/B]

The bolded was Westbrook's way to get in, all he had to do was make it one more time this year.

[QUOTE=FireDavidKahn]No, you have to be named an all star starter twice (there are other conditions as well) while on your rookie contract to get the 30% max[/QUOTE]


Your right, but for the wrong reason. Russ is in his 4th year so he's still in his rookie deal, so had he been an all-star this year he would have met the criteria to be eligible for a Derrick Rose rule deal.

However the problem is the CBA also states a team can only have one designated player, and the Thunder already have one.

[QUOTE=2LeTTeRS]

However the problem is the CBA also states a team can only have one designated player, and the Thunder already have one.[/QUOTE]
It says that? Cause the only thing I saw with the Rose rule was that it was for Franchise Players, and I considered Westbrook a franchise player
:confusedshrug: :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE=Tenchi Ryu]It says that? Cause the only thing I saw with the Rose rule was that it was for Franchise Players, and I considered Westbrook a franchise player
:confusedshrug: :confusedshrug:[/QUOTE]


Only 1 per team.

[QUOTE=Tenchi Ryu]It says that? Cause the only thing I saw with the Rose rule was that it was for Franchise Players, and I considered Westbrook a franchise player
:confusedshrug: :confusedshrug:[/QUOTE]

Thats what I've read. Heres a clip from an article on the Wolves extending Kevin Love. Check out the 2nd paragraph.

[quote]Unresolved is whether it will be a four-year contract approaching $61 million or a maximum five-year "designated player" deal surpassing $78 million.

[B]The NBA's new labor agreement allows every team one designated player -- a player ending his rookie contract who receives a five-year maximum-salary contract extension -- on their roster.[/B]

The Wolves prefer to save that designated-player slot for the future -- to re-sign Ricky Rubio in three years, perhaps -- but their negotiations with agent Jeff Schwartz might depend on what deals Oklahoma City reaches with Russell Westbrook and New Orleans reaches with Eric Gordon.

[url]http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/137635328.html[/url][/quote]

[QUOTE=2LeTTeRS]Your right, but for the wrong reason. Russ is in his 4th year so he's still in his rookie deal, so had he been an all-star this year he would have met the criteria to be eligible for a Derrick Rose rule deal.

However the problem is the CBA also states a team can only have one designated player, and the Thunder already have one.[/QUOTE]
It isn't just being an all star, you have to be a 2+ all star STARTER.

You could also win MVP.

You could also be named to an all nba team twice.

Those are the ONLY conditions in which you could be eligible for a 30% max contract coming off your rookie deal.

Edit: just saw post above, thanks for the info! I didn't know that.

[QUOTE=2LeTTeRS]Thats what I've read. Heres a clip from an article on the Wolves extending Kevin Love. Check out the 2nd paragraph.[/QUOTE]
Aaah, I see. Apparently though, many people including ESPN reporters must not know this yet since they claim Westbrook was also eligible.

[QUOTE=2LeTTeRS]Thats what I've read. Heres a clip from an article on the Wolves extending Kevin Love. Check out the 2nd paragraph.[/QUOTE]
Ok then I have a question on this. It says a team can only have one designated player have a 5 year extension off their rookie contract on the roster, but both Westbrook and Durant got 5 year extensions?:confusedshrug:

I didn't know it was one player either because all the reports I read was that Westbrook was eligible if he met one of the criteria by seasons end. but OKC had until sometime next week (deadline for extensions?) to sign him for less than what he would be eligible for. Pretty cool Westbrook sticking around. They should be able to keep harden/ibaka now. But I'm sure they'll be in the luxury tax. Hope they can afford that.

This basically guarantees that OKC will be a contender for at least another 3 years. They have everyone signed and ready to go.

They're in a great position.

Heat & Thunder = Other NBA teams watch & learn.

[COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="3"]WwwoooooooooooHHhhhooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/SIZE][/COLOR]


K.D. and Russell Westbrook until 2017 :bowdown:

Guess they like OKC after all. Didn't the Lakers think their boy was going to come home? :banana:

Damn.

Was hoping he'd at least reach restricted free agency so the Raptors could throw a max deal at him. OKC would likely match any offer sheet anyways but still, maybe a tiny chance to get him.

Happy to see my 2nd favorite player get paid:applause:

Westbrook is a great player but here's an honest reservation/observation I have. I wouldn't have him as my franchise player. Something about the way he plays makes me think that he doesn't always stop for red lights. :lol

Just heard his interview on the OKC Sports Animal.


Westbrook said:

---Loves OKC. :bowdown:

---Loves his teammates. Him and KD are great friends, and the supposed argument they had in the huddle the other day was discussing where Perkins was suppose to be on the play

---Perkins is the best big defender in the NBA

---Kevin Love is a the real deal and about to be healthily compensated

---Said OKC is his first team, and he and the rest of his teammates want to keep this team together to get a title

[IMG]http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0418/nba_g_rwestbrook_576x553.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Cowboy Thunder]Just heard his interview on the OKC Sports Animal.


Westbrook said:

---Loves OKC. :bowdown:

---Loves his teammates. Him and KD are great friends, and the supposed argument they had in the huddle the other day was discussing where Perkins was suppose to be on the play

---Perkins is the best big defender in the NBA

---Kevin Love is a the real deal and about to be healthily compensated

---Said OKC is his first team, and he and the rest of his teammates want to keep this team together to get a title

[IMG]http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0418/nba_g_rwestbrook_576x553.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://smiliesftw.com/x/big_bowdown.gif[/IMG]

discuss.

Can they still hold Harden and Ibaka with this? :confusedshrug:

Great decision.

[QUOTE=Cowboy Thunder]Great decision.[/QUOTE]
this. i hope they can retain harden.

Thunder will have 2 top 10 players for a long time. That's all that matters really.

Great decision. When you get the chance to sign/extend/acquire a geniune superstar (i.e. one of the top 10 players in the league) you do it.

What was their other option in any case, watch him walk for nothing. Hmmmm tempting.

However the decision to give Perkins the big contract is looking a little dubious insofar as it may prevent them resigning Ibaka/Harden.

Actually I didn't like Presti's other move around that time giving up DJ White (and Mo Pete's contract) for Nazr Mohammed. White isn't great but he's a plenty capable backup and could have given them an efficient second unit scorer which they'll need all the more when Harden moves into the starting 5.

[QUOTE=DRose1899]discuss.

Can they still hold Harden and Ibaka with this? :confusedshrug:[/QUOTE]

Absolutely great decision. They signed a guy who is 23 and already a top 15 player. And as a bonus, Westbrook did not take the 25-30% extra that was on the table for him so that the team would have an easier time signing Harden and Ibaka to extensions in the next couple of years. Westbrook took less money to keep the core of the team together. He left $10 million on the table.

[url]http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248549[/url] this thread is 8 hours older than yours OP :D

There's about 26 teams that lov to hav westbrook...

Last night Durant shot 10 3 point attempts and made 2.

Westbrook to 3 attempts and most if not all of his points were 15 feet or less. That also included double digit dimes ...
His 2012 average doesn't show up in the stat line the creation of space he opens up for his fellow teammates.

To clear up confusion on the Derrick Rose rule regarding KD and Westbrook:
It's designed to be used on one player (a "franchise player") but since KD signed his new contract under the previous CBA and Westbrook his under the new CBA, both players are eligible for the bonus money. Westbrook, however, left that money on the table so the team could re-sign Ibaka and Harden down the road so it's a moot point for now.

[QUOTE=Cowboy Thunder]Great decision.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely.

wen ur a small market u keep young talent period. atlanta was retarded for signing joe johnson to a max deal... but wouldnt have been if he was 24 instead of 29. they have to be a great impact pkayer to warrant a max deal or close to it at that age.

Westbrook and Durant are the second best duo in the NBA behind LeBron and (healthy) Wade imo. Great decision.

[QUOTE=OKCThunderUP]To clear up confusion on the Derrick Rose rule regarding KD and Westbrook:
It's designed to be used on one player (a "franchise player") but since KD signed his new contract under the previous CBA and Westbrook his under the new CBA, both players are eligible for the bonus money. [B]Westbrook, however, left that money on the table so the team could re-sign Ibaka and Harden down the road so it's a moot point for now[/B].[/QUOTE]
Wrong.

Westbrook left $10 Million on the table over [B]5 years[/B].

That means he saved OKC $2 Million each season.

That extra $2 Million has no effect on keeping Harden or Ibaka who stand to make more money elsewhere than in OKC.

Is Harden worth $60+ Million to OKC? We'll find out next summer because I can guarantee his next contract is going to be worth nearly as much as Westbrook's in hopes that he can become a Franchise player elsewhere.