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Russell Westbrook still has the opportunity to upset his former teammate James Harden as the best-paid player in the NBA by signing an extension this summer, but after the different additions made by the Oklahoma City Thunder as of late, the organization is more than ever “cautiously optimistic” he will sign, according to Fred Katz of The Norman Transcript.
Westbrook was extended the offer the very minute free agency started, but he can make up for the wait and agony by signing before the Oct. 16 deadline. If he doesn't, the recently-named Most Valuable Player could be a potential concern for the Thunder, as they might be facing another departure in a very similar way as it happened with their former cornerstone, Kevin Durant.
Yet Westbrook's delay is consistent with last season's, when he also waited a month to put pen to paper and commit to the organization in the midst of the exit of his running mate.
Due to the new collective bargaining agreement, the Thunder can offer a lot more money and years than any other teams in the market, but that hasn't stopped the likes of Chris Paul and others from leaving a lucrative situation to start fresh elsewhere.
Westbrook's potential five-year, $207 million extension could make him the best salary-paid athlete in all four major sports after adding to his $28.7 million salary for this 2017-18 season — amounting to a contract worth more than $235 million and putting his annual salary to a $39.2 million annual sum — a U.S. professional sports record, according to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City remains a small market, without the glamour and bright lights of places like his hometown L.A. — but the franchise has done everything to keep him committed, including pulling the rug from other teams' feet and netting Paul George‘s services.
The team has also added important pieces like Patrick Patterson, who should prove to be a versatile presence and give Westbrook another capable knock-down shooter to work alongside of.
