Westbrook has been the subject of some controversy with regards to his relationships with teammates, including OKC's superstar Kevin Durant. Durant had also signed a 5 year deal in 2010, which would see them together for the next few season. There were even rumors surfacing of a possible trade in light of a recent argument the two teammates had on the sideline during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Surely this recent deal will quell such rumors, as it remains evident the Thunder recognize Westbrook as a pivotal cog in the gears of the team.
In addition to Westbrook and Durant, all of the Oklahoma City Thunder's are secure for the next couple seasons, including forward Serge Ibaka, center Kendrick Perkins, and guard James Hardem. Considering all of this, OKC's roster can be considered locked up for some time, with the exception of draft picks and mid to low level exception free agent signings. It would also be wise to recognize that this current Thunder core went as far as the Western Conference Finals in the last NBA Season, where they fell victim to the eventual NBA Champions, Dallas Mavericks.
If we were to judge the Thunder based on their youth and skill level, it would be safe to say that the team's combination is unmatched in the league. After offering and embracing such a huge commitment (monetarily and otherwise), the Thunder can now only hope that he will continue to mature, and look past the recent disagreement with Durant earlier in the season, especially considering the two athletes are recognized as the chieftains of the team.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1031008-russell-westbrook-signs-max-contract-extension-with-oklahoma-city-thunder
0 comments:
Post a Comment