Oklahoma City Thunder superstar point guard Russell Westbrook, now league MVP (his acceptance speech was amazing, by the way), is expected to sign a five-year max contract extension with OKC, per ESPN’s Royce Young:
The Thunder will offer him a brand-new, five-year extension — Westbrook is locked in for 2017-18 — when the clock strikes midnight on July 1, making him one of the highest-paid players in NBA history, should he take it.
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Those close to Westbrook fully expect him to take the Thunder’s offer, quite possibly at 12:01 a.m., and stabilize the franchise and present a clear road map. Westbrook signed an extension last summer and invoked the word “loyalty” for a reason. He wanted to make a statement — a public declaration — and take on the burden of leading the franchise forward.
Kevin Durant leaving was a gunshot wound to the Thunder. Westbrook following Durant’s suit would be to allow the franchise to bleed out. With Westbrook gone, the Thunder would suddenly have one of the bleakest rosters in the NBA, forced to tank and build around Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo and/or Terrance Ferguson.
Fear not, though, Thunder fans. Westbrook is all about loyalty. After seemingly feeling so betrayed by Durant leaving, there’s little chance that Westbrook would do the same.
