I told people when Russell Westbrook signed his extension it was more good business and PR than loyalty.
Signed a short extension, make more and set yourself up for a bigger extension in free agency. The reason why Russell hasn’t signed yet is because he is keeping his options open at the moment.
It has been nearly two months since Russell Westbrook could agree to the fancy new designated veteran player extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder that would make him the highest paid player in league history.
When Westbrook agreed to an extension last summer (with a player option on the final year), and talked about loyalty and his affinity for the Thunder, he didn’t know the new designated player extension was coming. He thought he was signing a deal that extended him to the 10-year veteran max, a bump to 35 percent of his team’s cap. He thought he’d play out two more seasons, and then revisit his future in free agency in the summer of 2018.
But when the new designated player extension was added to the collective bargaining agreement, Westbrook was made retroactively eligible (along with Harden), and suddenly, he’s back to making a decision about his future.
The expectation since free agency opened was Westbrook would ink the extension, and it remains as such. Yet with almost a month and a half to go before the deadline, Westbrook hasn’t committed.
Last summer when Westbrook signed his extension, he said this: “There’s nowhere else I would rather be than Oklahoma City. … There’s no need to wait if you know where you want to be.”
If he turns down $207 million guaranteed, even with the contract factors of years and age, does that signal he doesn’t know where he wants to be anymore?
Russell should sit tight and see how things go this season.
He could potentially team up with LeBron or he could sign the extension, there is literally no upside of signing now.
It is just smart business.
The Thunder are understandably nervous and it is one of the reason they got Paul George, but full panic will set in if Russell hits free agency.