Westbrook Signs Max Extension

[fairweatherfan]

Woj and others reporting. 5 years, $205 million. Extension had been in the works for awhile but is finally done.

If OKC can resign Paul George they could have their foundation to carry into the next decade.

[MattyIce]

Russell Westbrook has agreed to a five-year, $205M contract extension with OKC, league sources tell ESPN.

[MattyIce]

delete plz

[fairweatherfan]

delete plz

13 seconds and I used capitals!  (TP)

[MattyIce]

nah lol, someone merged the two so it looks like i asked it to be yours...i asked for mine to be deleted not yours haha TP for beating me!

[celticsclay]

I think George will stay there. If they move Adams for something could become a real super team

[fairweatherfan]

nah lol, someone merged the two so it looks like i asked it to be yours...i asked for mine to be deleted not yours haha TP for beating me!

I know, no worries there.

So Russ breaks the record for biggest contract in league history and OKC has a superstar locked down for as long as the CBA allows, plus two more All-NBA caliber players for at least this season, one of whom's just entering his prime. Really impressive turnaround Presti's made from losing Durant.


EDIT: And today is apparently Durant's birthday, haha. Doubt it's intentional but it is funny.

[Roy H.]

Financially, I'm not sure if they will be able to keep the team together. I read somewhere that to keep all of their players it will cost $300 million in salary and repeater tax next year. That won't happen.

[PhoSita]

So since KD left:


Durant - Fit in seamlessly with a historically great team, dominated the playoffs, won a championship & Finals MVP, took a huge pay cut to help keep the team together


Westbrook - Took a million shots as a one man show, won MVP, lost in the first round, got his GM to make desperation trades to get one year rentals of P.G. and Melo, then signed a $200 million extension; will likely never win a title but will likely make substantially more money over his career than KD.

Seems about right.


I'm happy for OKC fans though.  These days it feels more and more rare for one player to stay with a team long term and to have that security as a fan to know your team will have a consistent core identity.

[PhoSita]

I think George will stay there. If they move Adams for something could become a real super team

Adams is so underrated.  Isn't that exactly the kind of player you want as your garbage man in the starting lineup?  He's like a taller far more mobile and athletic Perk.

[CelticsElite]

So since KD left:


Durant - Fit in seamlessly with a historically great team, dominated the playoffs, won a championship & Finals MVP, took a huge pay cut to help keep the team together


Westbrook - Took a million shots as a one man show, won MVP, lost in the first round, got his GM to make desperation trades to get one year rentals of P.G. and Melo, then signed a $200 million extension; will likely never win a title but will likely make substantially more money over his career than KD.

Seems about right.


I'm happy for OKC fans though.  These days it feels more and more rare for one player to stay with a team long term and to have that security as a fan to know your team will have a consistent core identity.

why happy for okc fans? They're the enemy

[fairweatherfan]

So since KD left:


Durant - Fit in seamlessly with a historically great team, dominated the playoffs, won a championship & Finals MVP, took a huge pay cut to help keep the team together


Westbrook - Took a million shots as a one man show, won MVP, lost in the first round, got his GM to make desperation trades to get one year rentals of P.G. and Melo, then signed a $200 million extension; will likely never win a title but will likely make substantially more money over his career than KD.

Seems about right.


I'm happy for OKC fans though.  These days it feels more and more rare for one player to stay with a team long term and to have that security as a fan to know your team will have a consistent core identity.

Agree with most of it, but desperation trades? They gave up their two worst contracts (or 2 of 3 if you're not keen on Adams) and I believe 0 draft picks, and might not even be on the hook for any salary after this year while having Bird rights for two elite players.

[Donoghus]

So since KD left:


Durant - Fit in seamlessly with a historically great team, dominated the playoffs, won a championship & Finals MVP, took a huge pay cut to help keep the team together


Westbrook - Took a million shots as a one man show, won MVP, lost in the first round, got his GM to make desperation trades to get one year rentals of P.G. and Melo, then signed a $200 million extension; will likely never win a title but will likely make substantially more money over his career than KD.

Seems about right.


I'm happy for OKC fans though.  These days it feels more and more rare for one player to stay with a team long term and to have that security as a fan to know your team will have a consistent core identity.

OKC is small market.  For them to do this, is huge.  Both for the city and for the whole "large market v. small market" dynamic.

[Vermont Green]

I think George will stay there. If they move Adams for something could become a real super team

Adams is so underrated.  Isn't that exactly the kind of player you want as your garbage man in the starting lineup?  He's like a taller far more mobile and athletic Perk.

I think the problem is the $22.5M he will make this season and then more for 3 seasons after that.

I think it will be a scary team actually.  Paul George as your #2 and Carmelo as you #3 scoring option?

Westbrook has obviously played with a star before (Durant) but it will be interesting to see how he adapts his game to play as the #1 option but with legitimate stars also on the court.  He was at his statistical best last season with less to work with.  He didn't seem to mesh with Durant well but this team will be different.  It is clearly his team (as opposed to when it was Durant's team in all reality) but now he needs to give some things up to George and Carmelo to let the team be better.

I am guessing this will be a very good team, assuming Westbrook figures out how to be the right kind of team leader.

[Endless Paradise]

So since KD left:


Durant - Fit in seamlessly with a historically great team, dominated the playoffs, won a championship & Finals MVP, took a huge pay cut to help keep the team together


Westbrook - Took a million shots as a one man show, won MVP, lost in the first round, got his GM to make desperation trades to get one year rentals of P.G. and Melo, then signed a $200 million extension; will likely never win a title but will likely make substantially more money over his career than KD.

Seems about right.


I'm happy for OKC fans though.  These days it feels more and more rare for one player to stay with a team long term and to have that security as a fan to know your team will have a consistent core identity.

Agree with most of it, but desperation trades? They gave up their two worst contracts (or 2 of 3 if you're not keen on Adams) and I believe 0 draft picks, and might not even be on the hook for any salary after this year while having Bird rights for two elite players.

Ding ding ding.

(They did give up the Chicago second rounder for next year's draft in the Melo deal, just for the record).

But classify those trades as "desperation moves" is pretty far-fetched.