Thursday Bolts – Brodie Edition
Jon Hamm for The Franchise: “It also gains another side benefit in this deal: Westbrook’s
trade value just took a positive spike. To be clear, such a scenario is one that gets serious consideration only if the team’s internal Doomsday Clock gets moved to a minute before midnight. But it’s impossible to ignore that, should next season head south for any reason, Westbrook becomes much more attractive to other teams with this new extension than he did under his old deal. With only a year left on his contract, Westbrook held some degree of control over his future. A mere “I’m not re-signing with you” from Westbrook would have deflated offers. Now teams will be more giving if it means getting a superstar with more than a year left on his deal. Whether Westbrook is in Oklahoma City for six more months or six more years, Thunder fans have reason to be excited. Just remember the lessons learned from Durant’s departure. Don’t put away those cynical goggles you just acquired. Be skeptical of what’s presented to the public. What can be presented as a show of loyalty could just be a good business deal too good for all parties to pass up.”
Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider: “As difficult as Durant’s departure was, the Thunder can rightly feel some optimism about their long-term future with Westbrook’s extension completed. Beyond Durant’s new superteam in Golden State, the rest of the West’s contenders probably will be in flux the next few seasons. The Spurs have already lost Tim Duncan to retirement, with Manu Ginobili likely to soon follow and Tony Parker also aging. The Los Angeles Clippers can see both Griffin and Chris Paul become free agents next summer, and even the up-and-coming Utah Jazz must re-sign Hayward. There’s an opening for Oklahoma City to emerge as the greatest threat to the Warriors in 2017-18, and while that requires everything to go right in free agency and the Thunder’s young talent to develop as anticipated, that scenario was only possible with a Westbrook extension.”
Tom Ziller of SB Nation: “The Thunder have pulled off a major victory, convincing Russell Westbrook to sign an extension that will boost his 2016-17 salary and keep him under contract for one additional season. The renegotiated contract includes the salary adjustment for 2016-17 (achieved using OKC’s leftover cap space), a fully locked-in 2017-18 and a player option for 2018-19. Doing it this way allows Westbrook to make more money now and hit free agency in 2018, when he has 10 years of service under his belt and can sign a deal for 35 percent of the salary cap. It’s a win for everyone but the Celtics and the hopes of any other 2016-17 MVP hopefuls. Even Kevin Durant benefits from this in a way because the OKC victory dampens the OKC defeat at his hands. Westbrook is going to be must watch TV next year.”
Enes Kanter is making a run at greatest tweeter ever.
The Lost Ogle on that traitor Slater: “Wow, what a coward. OKC loses it’s best player – and any serious championship aspirations – and instead of being loyal and staying here you run home like a little baby to eat mom’s home cooking, cover the guy who fled and write about Draymond’s dick? What a joke. And I know I’m not the only one who’s outraged. According to sources, Slater recently told Royce Young and the Norman Transcript’s Fred Katz over dinner at Fuzzy’s that he would be returning to OKC to “finish the job.” I guess it goes to show that Anthony Slater can not be trusted, and goes back on his word.”
Too bad the Thunder are keeping Russ, because Derek Fisher could be available again.
Erik Horne: “For the Thunder and Oklahoma City, the re-negotiation/extension is the figurative end of what’s been a two-month period of silence from Westbrook. Since his June 1 exit interview, Westbrook hasn’t spoken to the media. Aside from Westbrook telling campers at his Why Not? Basketball Camp in Oklahoma City in June that he’d be back at the camp next season, there was no indication that Westbrook was going to sign an extension. Westbrook trade rumors inevitably swirled, as the Thunder was faced with the prospect of rebuilding a franchise in a single summer. But if the season played out with Westbrook in OKC, it could have been a crippling blow for the Thunder to potentially lose Durant and Westbrook in consecutive summers via free agency.”
