NBA 2016-17 News, Deals and Team Signings Update: OKC Thunder and Russell Westbrook on the Verge of $48 M Contract Extension

By Regin Anthony Salo Olimberio, CP Contributor Thursday, August 04, 2016

The next 48 hours will define Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook's future in the 2016-2017 NBA season as the finishing touches for a megadeal between the two sets into pace.

According to ESPN's sources from the inside, the Thunder is offering a $48 million two-year extension to Westbrook's contract which due to expire after the upcoming season.

To recall, the Thunder suffered a heavy blow after Kevin Durant landed in the free agency and Golden State Warriors took the opportunity to sign him in. Durant is the league's top scorer and with his departure, Westbrook was left with a heavy call to push the conference finalist Thunder into another chance at the finals.

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Thunder is not to be caught flat footed twice as the lucrative offer to Westbrook includes a jump from $17.8 million to $26.5 million max after the next season. Another salient provision in the deal is the addition for player option in the third season. Meaning, Westbrook can take advantage of NBA's rule that players who have completed ten seasons can earn larger max salary. Westbrook is to qualify in the next two years, having played for Oklahoma City in the past eight seasons.

The megadeal made clear that the Thunder is locking up Westbrook in their roster. This in lieu of earlier speculations that he is to be traded this off-season to give Oklahoma City an allowance in the salary cap, then explore other potential tandems since they already lost Durant.

Technically, nothing has been finalized yet and the final nod still resides with Westbrook. The Thunder is not giving any hard deadline against Westbrook regarding the deal although a result is expected to be out within the next two days.

For Westbrook, the 2015-16 season witnessed his best performance on the court as well as historical for his career. The past season catapulted Westbrook among the legends for most triple-doubles made in the past 50 years. Westbrook made 18 triple-doubles, six of them in March, to tie with an earlier record made by Magic Johnson. The 27 year-old five-time All-Star and two-time All-Star Game MVP closed the last season averaging 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 10.4 assists last season and finished fourth in the MVP voting.

At any rate, Oklahoma City Thunder's lineup and starters will remain unchanged even if the deal will come into fruition or not, unless a trade will push last minute. Looking at the current setup of 2016-17 starters will be Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Kyle Singler, Ersan Ilvasova and Steve Adams. The second set will include Cameron Payne, Victor Oladipo, Josh Huestis, Nick Collison and Enes Kanter. Lastly, Anthony Morrow and Mitch McGary will serve as third option off the bench.