Since Kevin Durant announced his decision to join the Golden State Warriors, many people have wondered what the future holds for Russell Westbrook, who has just one year remaining on his contract with the Thunder. Will OKC deal him? Will Westbrook express a desire to test the free agent market? Or, maybe, just maybe, Russ will want to stay with the Thunder? Apparently, it's the latter because, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder are engaged in "serious talks" regarding a contract renegotiation,
No deal has been finalized for the five-time All-Star guard, but there’s momentum toward a three-year, $85 million-plus maximum contract renegotiation agreement, league sources told The Vertical.
Under the rumored new three-year deal, Westbrook would get a sizable pay increase for the 2016-17 campaign, earning a max salary of $26.5 million, instead of the $17.8 million he would get under his current contract. The following season, Russ would make $28.5 million. Westbrook would have a player option for the third year in which he'sd receive $30.6 million if he chooses to stay in Oklahoma City.
Early Thursday morning, ESPN was reporting that Westbrook had agreed to a three-year, $85.7 million contract, which he would officially sign in a press conference later that day.
While things seem to be headed in the right direction for Westbrook and the Thunder, nothing is final until he puts his signature on a new contract. Until then, the rest of the league can keep dreaming about having Russ on their roster next season.
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