Ball in Westbrook’s court on contract extension
If Russell Westbrook wants it, the contract is there.
The Thunder on Tuesday introduced free-agent signees Patrick Patterson and
Raymond Felton. On Wednesday, it’ll welcome All-Star
Paul George with an event downtown.
The biggest item left on Oklahoma City’s summer to-do list is a massive contract extension — five years and more than $200 million — for Westbrook, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player.
“I wouldn’t say that one’s a negotiation,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said. “Russell understands where we are on that.”
That is to say, if Westbrook wants to sign what would be the richest contract in NBA history, he’s welcome to, and in the meantime, the Thunder won’t press the issue.
The focus this week is on helping acclimate new acquisitions Patterson, Felton and George, who arrived in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Those players figure to make for a stronger roster around Westbrook, but Presti said appeasing OKC’s superstar wasn’t a motivating factor.
“I think if we needed some kind of nudge in that respect, then we probably don’t deserve to be doing what we’re doing,” said Presti, who said the organization’s history in OKC has demonstrated that “we’re pretty aggressive.”
Still, the Thunder is taking a passive approach to Westbrook’s contract. Presti called Westbrook, who has a year remaining on his current contract, “an incredible ambassador for the organization,” and the team wants him around for the long haul.
What happens next is up to the MVP.
“He’ll make that decision or move forward with that or he won’t,” Presti said. “That’s really his decision.”
Felton: Relationship with Westbrook ‘great’
Five years is a long time in the NBA. Five years ago, Felton spoke his mind about the Thunder
Felton was introduced as a Thunder player Tuesday in Oklahoma City. When asked about 2012, when he said Westbrook was always caught up in one-on-one battles with other point guards, Felton said he made some comments he probably shouldn’t have.
“I think at the time you were just talking about two guys who were just strong competitors,” Felton said Tuesday. “Two guys who battled it out at the time. I was young, you know. Not really understanding the press side of things and understanding that when you say certain stuff it’s going to come back 10 times more.”
“So, not meaning it in a disrespectful or antagonizing kind of way, but it was just one of those things where I’m a competitor, and I was kind of heated about maybe out there playing against him or whatever it was. Just made some comments that (I) probably shouldn’t have.”
At the end of the 2011 season Felton, then playing for Denver, sounded off about the Thunder’s attitude. Felton said he wanted to play the Thunder in the first round of the postseason because Kevin
Durant, Westbrook and Co., “were doing a little bit of trash talking.” “But me and Russell got a great relationship,” Felton said Tuesday. “We’ve got a great deal of respect for each other.
“We’re both competitors. We both bring it every night. Other than that, there is no problem between us. Not at all.”
Taking one for Mark Cuban
Felton had to pay for
Mark Cuban’s fun time. Felton said Tuesday he wasn’t too happy with the Dallas Mavericks owner back in April 2016. Before Game 5 of the Thunder-Mavericks Western Conference first round series, Cuban sat courtside at Chesapeake Energy Arena and said Russell Westbrook wasn’t a superstar.
Westbrook responded to Cuban’s comments with arguably his best game of the postseason: 36 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and just three turnovers in 38 minutes to close out the Mavericks.
“I was mad at him,” Felton said laughing. “Because I think the next night he came out and gave us like 35 or 37 points, something like that. Yeah, I was really upset with that comment.’
“I’m like, man, I’m the one who has to guard this man.”