More Rumors in this Storyline

2 years ago – via Twitter melissarohlin

Melissa Rohlin: Russell Westbrook when asked if he’s going to pick up his $47 million player option: “I’ll make the decision. That’s why it’s called a player option.”

2 years ago – via Harrison Faigen @ Silverscreenandroll.com

First, Johnson went on ESPN’s “Get Up,” where he harangued Pelinka and the team he quit on with zero warning before the last game of the season in 2019 for choosing Russell Westbrook over DeMar DeRozan, in and of itself a semi-justified criticism: “DeRozan wanted to play for the Lakers, and when I got the call from his agent, I called the Lakers and said ‘hey, he wants to come home,’ and DeRozan could have been a Laker instead of a Bull. We could have made that deal. But when Russell (Westbrook) and LeBron and them start talking, that’s when they nixed that deal and went with Westbrook and he became a Laker instead of DeRozan.”

2 years ago – via Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com

Lakers are not waiving and stretching Russell Westbrook

Jake Fischer: We’ve definitely been talking about the wave and stretch idea for a couple weeks now. I will say after I wrote that I was kind of told that that’s very unlikely to happen. I mean, anything could change here. But I think I don’t think the Lakers intend to carry dead money on future salary because of Russell Westbrook.

2 years ago – via Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com

'Impossible' for Lakers to bring back Russell Westbrook next season?

Jousting with reporters in press conferences is apparently not the lone source of pushback these days from under-fire guard Russell Westbrook. There has been no shortage of defiance behind the scenes, I’m told, when coaches and teammates have tried to broach changes in role or approach with the former MVP. For all the obvious complexities involved in trying to move Westbrook when he’s owed a whopping $47 million next season at age 34, one league source described the idea of bringing him back next season as “impossible” based on current tension levels. The question then becomes: If the Lakers can’t construct a palatable trade, do they try to just buy Westbrook out? Or waive and stretch him?

2 years ago – via Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com

LeBron James was a strong advocate for the trade that brought Westbrook to Hollywood and thus has to wear his considerable slice of culpability for how poorly things are working out. Yet one source did point out at least one counter on James’ behalf, noting that he was also one of the organization’s staunchest Alex Caruso fans and badly wanted the Lakers to re-sign the defensive-minded guard. The Lakers, despite all of their considerable revenue streams, refused to offer a contract on par with the four-year, $37 million deal Caruso landed from Chicago because of the luxury-tax implications. The injuries that have limited Davis to 37 games have done the most damage to the Lakers’ 17th-ranked defense, but Caruso’s departure was another big hit. 1:28

3 years ago – via Twitter TheNBACentral

NBA Central: Brian Windhorst: “This is based on conversations from all around the league at every level. Victor Oladipo and Russell Westbrook do not have trade value.” (h/t @alec_sturm ) pic.twitter.com/S9PsM4uNzc

7 years ago – via Twitter FredKatz

Fred Katz: Westbrook declines to say when he informed the organization he’d extend, reiterates he always wanted to be in OKC.

7 years ago – via Twitter FredKatz

Fred Katz: Westbrook: “I’m truly honored and blessed to be here.”

7 years ago – via Twitter FredKatz

Fred Katz: Westbrook: “You guys took me here. I came here when I was 18 years old, been here for 10 years, and I’m gonna be here a lot longer.”

7 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

Westbrook has offered no hints that he wouldn’t sign the extension and the Thunder remain cautiously optimistic that he will stay. His decision could go a long way toward retaining George, for whom the Los Angeles Lakers have already been levied a $500,000 tampering fine. George’s future will be a season-long topic and Westbrook will also be in that mix unless he ends the suspense before the season begins.

7 years ago – via Bleacher Report

Westbrook’s availability may be the most fleeting. Whispers around the NBA suggest James would love to team up with the explosive guard. How would teams defend two triple-double powerhouses like James and Westbrook? On most nights, they don’t… That said, when asked, various NBA executives believe Westbrook will eventually sign his deal with the Thunder.

7 years ago – via Lakers Nation

At the top of the Lakers’ wish list has to be LeBron James, as the four-time MVP has reached the NBA Finals the last seven seasons and reports around the league suggest that James could be interested in signing with Los Angeles. If the Lakers are able to convince James to make the move then he will likely be involved in the recruiting process to get another star to join him, and according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Westbrook could be his first choice: Whispers around the NBA suggest James would love to team up with the explosive guard.

7 years ago – via ESPN

The Thunder’s offer is on the table, and has been for some time. As Thunder GM Sam Presti said in July, this isn’t really a negotiation. Either Westbrook takes it, or he doesn’t. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Westbrook hasn’t delivered an official answer — either a yes or a no. Though the chatter and anxiety might be steadily increasing, nothing has tangibly changed.

7 years ago – via ESPN

But there’s one sticky issue. 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? That come next summer, he might have an eye elsewhere? Not necessarily, but it surely doesn’t give the Thunder a lot of confidence, especially after watching Durant walk away in free agency last summer after affirming and re-affirming his loyalty to the organization, both publicly and privately.

7 years ago – via Oklahoman

Harden joined Golden State’s Stephen Curry this summer as the only $200 million dollar men in the NBA. Westbrook can be the next in the club and the new benchmark in sports if he and the Thunder agree to a five-year extension. In addition to Westbrook’s $28.5 million salary in 2017-18, he’d receive an estimated $207 million over the length of the extension (until the 2022-23 season), which would amount to more than $235 million – and an average salary of $39.2 million, which would be a U.S. professional sports record. Like Harden’s annual salary, Westbrook’s is subject to change based on future salary cap projections.

7 years ago – via Los Angeles Daily News

While the 32-year-old Young hopes to maximize his earnings on a multi-year contract for a playoff team, the Lakers want to sign players to one-year deals to save cap space for the 2018 offseason when LeBron James, Paul George and Russell Westbrook might be available.

7 years ago – via USA Today Sports

While Westbrook isn’t expected to sign the five-year, $217 million extension offer on Friday night, he knows the offer is there with a pen waiting when he wants it. It will be there until the deadline at the start of the regular season, and now all the noise about what it means that he isn’t signing it right away is lessened because of the George acquisition.

7 years ago – via ESPN

After signing an extension last summer in the wake of Durant’s departure, Westbrook can sign another in the ballpark of $220 million over five years this summer. Westbrook is signed through the 2017-18 season, with a player option on the following year, but the Thunder would obviously like to have a longer commitment from their franchise player. The expectation is that they will make the offer, but should Westbrook decline, all that talk of stabilizing the franchise would get a little more wobbly, and with only a year guaranteed, talk of trading him could spark again. It will certainly be alarming for the front office, especially after what it went through with Durant.

7 years ago – via Twitter BaxterHolmes

Baxter Holmes: Anthony Davis talked to @Sirius XM NBA about rumors that he and Russell Westbrook might one day join the Lakers: Anthony Davis: “Some rumor from somewhere said me and Russell was going to LA. I haven’t talked to Russell or whoever the source is about that so I’m not sure where this came from but I’m here. I just signed an extension here. If I didn’t want to be here I would have never signed the extension. (via Sirius XM NBA Radio).”

7 years ago – via Oklahoman

Per The Vertical’s Adrian Wojanarowski, the rule would allow veteran stars to sign five-year extensions with a year left on their current contracts. The rule, per Wojnarowski was created “in an effort to incentivize players to re-sign with their own teams.” If Westbrook were to re-sign under the proposed designated veteran rule, he’d be under contract for another six seasons following the 2017-18 season. In addition, the rule would apply to restricted free agents and players coming off their rookie contract, allowing them “to be guaranteed more money to stay with their current teams over testing the free-agent market,” if they hit certain benchmarks such as All-NBA selections and individual awards like Most Valuable Player.

7 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

In two years, two sons of Southern California – Indiana’s Paul George and Oklahoma City’s Westbrook – can become free agents and consider coming home. In their recent state of disrepair, the Lakers have been fully unappealing to superstar free agents. Kevin Durant wouldn’t take a meeting with them. The Lakers called the reps of Memphis’ Mike Conley on July 1, only to be told they wouldn’t be seriously considered. Miami center Hassan Whiteside passed, too.

8 years ago – via ESPN

The Thunder just completed a “renegotiate-and-extend” deal with their remaining franchise player, increasing his 2016-17 salary to $26.5 million while extending his contract through 2018-19. The final season has a player option, meaning Westbrook can become a free agent in either 2018 or 2019. If he becomes a free agent in 2018, he will be 29, likely still in his prime and have exactly 10 years in the league. Should he choose to re-sign with the Thunder, his contract could start at a projected $35.5 million and could total $204.1 million. If he waits until 2019, he could start at a projected $35.8 million and his contract could total nearly $206 million.

8 years ago – via Twitter ramonashelburne

Ramona Shelburne: One key thing on the structure of Westbrook’s deal. If he were to re-up after 2018, it would set records. Approximately 5 years, $204 mil

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

Extension coming for Russell Westbrook?

Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group, the agent for Oklahoma City superstar Russell Westbrook, is engaged in serious talks with the Thunder on a contract renegotiation that could secure Westbrook through the 2018-19 season in Oklahoma City, league sources told The Vertical.

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

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.

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

The proposed deal would include a player option on the third year, which would clear the way for Westbrook to return to free agency in 2018.

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

In the structure of a proposed deal, the renegotiation would move Westbrook’s salary in 2016-17 from $17.8 million to a $26.5 million max salary. Westbrook would make $28.5 million in 2017-18 and $30.6 million in the third year under the proposed renegotiated deal. Oklahoma City is able to offer the extension because it has the appropriate salary-cap space available.

8 years ago – via South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Russell Westbrook remains a longshot for any team beyond the Thunder. And for those inside the organization to again express conviction that a legitimate run can be made for the top name in free agency only furthers the all-or-nothing feel when it comes to rebuilding from the Big Three era. Sometimes (actually, most of the time) rebuilds are incremental.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Westbrook has remained mum, but he and the Thunder have been in communication often since Durant’s departure. Plenty want to hear from Westbrook, but he isn’t going to play out his free agency in the public eye. There won’t be any “I’ll make that decision when the time comes” mediaspeak. It’s not hard to gauge him when it comes to public comments; he’s as transparent as they come. And with Durant now gone, Westbrook understands the gravity of his own choice — he leaves, and the organization burns to the ground in a summer. So he wants to give them clarity to either move on with or without him.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

The Thunder are still reeling from the sting of Durant’s decision, and most in the organization have been left jaded by a cornerstone piece saying all the right things and then turning another direction at the last minute. Even with Westbrook’s history of avoiding doublespeak, actions speak louder than words. So the Thunder are pushing for it, and their decision to rescind Dion Waiters’ qualifying offer suggests they’re paving a way to do it.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

It’s obvious to say, but the Thunder categorically don’t want to trade Westbrook. They aren’t interested in a teardown. Their priority is to convince him to stay long-term and reconfigure around him.

8 years ago – via Twitter FredKatz

Fred Katz: Thunder fans with the “In Russ we trust” sign outside their house. https://t.co/O417MueRuG

8 years ago – via Twitter WojVerticalNBA

Adrian Wojnarowski: OKC still holds Bird Rights and could re-sign Waiters, but needed to protect cap space, including for a possible Westbrook renegotiation.

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

For Westbrook, the most likely scenario for a renegotiation would be to use the Thunder’s cap space to guarantee he will stay under contract with the Thunder through the 2017-18 season. This would give Oklahoma City the chance to recruit one of its top targets – 2017 free agent and Oklahoma native Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers – to partner with Westbrook, league sources said.

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

Westbrook and his agent, Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group, have been in regular contact with Thunder general manager Sam Presti since Kevin Durant’s departure on July 4, but Westbrook has yet to make a commitment to renegotiate his contract and forgo free agency in 2017, league sources said.

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

Nevertheless, Westbrook is a proponent of the young talent on the Thunder roster and is eager to lead the team in the 2016-17 season, sources said. So far, league sources said, teams that have reached out to the Thunder about trading for Westbrook have been told that he isn’t available.

8 years ago – via Twitter anthonyVslater

Anthony Slater: Kevin Durant said there were no talks with Russell Westbrook about his future… or “anything else” but “I wish him nothing but the best” https://t.co/niAvOfgrtX

8 years ago – via Oklahoman

Multiple witness accounts from Westbrook’s OKC camp had the Thunder star being asked by campers if he’ll be back at the camp in 2017, to which Westbrook said yes. Other than that subject-to-change answer to his young fans, it’s been quiet in regard to his future.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Ramona Shelburne: Only Pat Riley knows why Miami didn’t increase its offer more to Dwyane Wade, but there are clear benefits to the Heat’s financial flexibility when free agents like Russell Westbrook will hit the market

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Ian Begley: There’s been plenty of noise in New York about 2017 free agent and Russell Westbrook and the Knicks in the last two days. Westbrook’s free agency is 12 months away, so it’s probably foolish to make any bold proclamations about his future right now. But here’s one thing worth noting on the Knicks/Westbrook dynamic: Westbrook is a big fan of Kristaps Porzingis and has been impressed by his game, according to league sources. Would Porzingis’ presence lead Westbrook to New York? Who knows? Again, his free agency is 12 months away. Plenty can happen between now and then. The Vertical reported in February that the Knicks and Porzingis have Westbrook’s “attention.” But the Knicks now have a point guard on the roster in Derrick Rose, also a 2017 free agent. New York would obviously need to let Rose walk away next summer to pursue Westbrook. The Knicks would also have to clear some additional cap space to have enough money for Westbrook, but they wouldn’t have to move heaven and earth to do so. Also worth noting on the Knicks/Westbrook dynamic: New York assistant coach Josh Longstaff has a strong relationship with Westbrook from his days as a video coordinator/player development coach in Oklahoma City.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

But he was the franchise, and they were willing to take the risk. Westbrook, though, they feel differently about. One source said in February that Durant leaving would only make Westbrook more resolute to stay.

8 years ago – via Boston Herald

With Westbrook set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017, the long-term prospects for continuity did not appear great. “He’s gone after this year,” said one league executive. “A hundred percent. I think that’s the case no matter what (Durant had decided). I guess people can always change their mind, but I think this season was going to be it for him there no matter what.”

8 years ago – via Boston Herald

The club might also have had the idea that concerns in that area were a big part of why Durant was seriously thinking about leaving the Thunder in the first place. One person close to Durant and Russell Westbrook said their relationship is “kind of complicated.” Said another Western source, “Look, KD and Russ are friends. They get along great off the court. They’re good guys. But Kevin feels like no one can control Russell when he’s on the court — not even Russell. Everyone sees it. It’s no secret. I think that’s been hard on Kevin. Russ is one of the top players in the game, but things have to fit.”

8 years ago – via Twitter daldridgetnt

Russell Westbrook not extending contract for now

David Aldridge: Told emphatically by league source there’s no chance Russell Westbrook will do a renegotiation/extension of his contract (one yr remaining). That does not mean there’s no chance W’Brook could re-sign in OKC in ‘17. It just makes no sense financially to do renegotiation/extension.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Thunder to field offers for Russell Westbrook?

If Westbrook chooses not to extend his contract this summer, multiple league executives told ESPN they believe the Thunder will consider fielding trade offers for Westbrook.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

The Oklahoma City Thunder potentially have a major decision to make with Russell Westbrook after the departure of Kevin Durant. One option the team is considering is attempting to renegotiate and extend the contract of Westbrook before he can become a free agent after next season, sources told ESPN.

8 years ago – via Twitter anthonyVslater

Anthony Slater: I’d expect OKC’s first order of business: Pitch Russell Westbrook on extension, take over franchise. If he says no, discuss tear down.

8 years ago – via Bleacher Report

So Jim told people that Carmelo Anthony was coming the next summer. He told people that Howard was staying the previous year. He told people as soon as the Lakers’ recent season was winding down that Kevin Durant was coming this summer…with Russell Westbrook the next.

8 years ago – via Twitter

Adam Kaufman: .@WojVerticalNBA envisions Kevin Durant returning to #Thunder for 1+1 deal, then taking longer view of future when up with Westbrook in ’17

8 years ago – via Sporting News

Durant’s deal could start at $38.5 million that way, rather than $27 million. He would have the added benefit of playing for another year under Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City, exploring whether the team’s playoff run this year can be built upon next year. And he’d be a free agent in 2017, alongside teammate Russell Westbrook.

8 years ago – via Twitter anthonyVslater

Anthony Slater: Kevin Durant on whether he’ll consult with Russell Westbrook during the free agency process: You mentioned your tight-knit circle. Russell Westbrook has a decision he needs to make a year from now. Will he be one of the people you’ll talk to through this? Kevin Durant: “It’s kinda hard to talk to one of my teammates. Obviously we’ve been through a lot, we know each other very, very well. It’s one of those things where I just need to hear from me, hear what I want and talk to myself on what I need and how I can make this thing work for myself. Just try to be a little selfish a bit. Obviously I’m going to ask for advice but also I want to make a decision that’s best for me. I’m sure at some point me and Russ will sit down and talk. But he’s put no pressure on me. He’s been great in this whole thing just being my friend and that s one thing I needed throughout this year and during this process. Just people being my friend and worry about me as a person.”

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

As covered in this cyberspace in May, when we detailed the San Antonio Spurs’ plan to make a free-agent run at No. 35, most of the league’s best-placed observers on the subject continue to see Durant’s most probable choice as staying in OKC for the short term. That would mean signing a two-year deal with a team option after Year 1 that allows him to return to free agency in July 2017 … alongside Russell Westbrook.

8 years ago – via Twitter KButter5

Kendall Marshall: and Russ to LAL the following year.

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Another factor worth considering: Keefe and Longstaff are held in high regard by Oklahoma City stars — and soon-to-be free agents — Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

8 years ago – via Oregonian

Marc Spears of the ESPN’s The Undefeated joined the Bald Faced Truth radio show (12-3p on 750-AM and 102.9-FM) to talk about the NBA playoffs, the coaching hires, and why he thinks Kevin Durant is going to stay in Oklahoma City… and how Dwight Howard would be an interesting fit in Portland. Listen to the full interview here. “I think (the playoff success) makes it really, really hard for (Durant) to leave now,” Spears said. “Even if they lose… doesn’t it seems weird if he jumps to the team that just beat you in the conference finals instead of saying maybe let’s find a piece to get over the hump… I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up just re-signing another year, and then aligning himself with Russell Westbrook to make a decision at the same time.”

8 years ago – via Twitter NYPost_Berman

Marc Berman: Melo was asked about Russell Westbrook free agency, that he could have interest. “That’s 2017. He’s not even thinking about it.”

8 years ago – via Yahoo! Sports

Knicks have real shot at Russell Westbrook?

The Knicks have a real chance to sell Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in 2017 – New York and Porzingis have his attention, yes – and Jackson ought to start constructing an elite coaching staff to begin that process with Westbrook and with free agents beyond him.

8 years ago – via Basketball Insiders

There is nothing contained in this commentary to suggest anything of substance from Durant’s side or even Westbrook’s side. This commentary is simply the dream scenario from the L.A. Lakers, framed solely through the prism of the Lakers. A league source chuckled at the idea, saying if Durant and Westbrook wanted to remain together, they’d earn more staying right where they are.

8 years ago – via Basketball Insiders

While the L.A. Lakers would love to land Durant, the idea that some elaborate plan has been formulated by Durant and Westbrook is almost laughable.

8 years ago – via Examiner

“Keep in mind this, one of the biggest reasons I’m told, that Kevin Durant may have the Lakers at the top of his list, is because the Lakers have been led to believe, by whom specifically I do not know, but the Lakers have been led to believe that it is a very good chance that the following year Russell Westbrook is coming.”

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Stephen A. Smith: “They love each other, and they love being on the same team with one another. And if it so happens to be in the L.A. market, all the better. I’m not saying it is done. (…) It’s a big possibility.”

8 years ago – via ESPN.com

Stephen A. Smith: “Make no mistake about it, Russell Westbrook doesn’t have a problem being in L.A.”

8 years ago – via Oklahoman

Much has changed since the start of the season. The idea of Durant signing a one-year opt-out deal with the Thunder has gained traction, sending him to the 2017 market with Russell Westbrook. The Warriors and Spurs have hit supernova levels of play, stealing away a bulk of the league’s headlines and interest. And the teams below them are searching for a current identity, not a long-term pipedream.

8 years ago – via USA Today Sports

Not only does he have a long history with the top free agent of the 2016 summer (the Thunder’s Kevin Durant), but also the top free agent name in 2017 (UCLA product/Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook). Alas, those are stories for another day. On this day, it’s the Rockets who simply must find a way to fix their problems soon in this post-McHale era.