OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 23: Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder react in the first half while taking on the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena on May 23, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)There had been multiple he-said/he-said reports about a potential rift between Oklahoma City Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook that some said could drive a wedge down the middle of the top contender in the Western conference. On Thursday however, Thunder general manager Sam Presti effectively put an end to the rumors by committing $80 million over five years to OKC’s dynamic combo guard.
The extension makes firm statements for both camps. Under the new “Derrick Rose exemption” negotiated in the new CBA, a player who meets specific milestones during the duration of their rookie contract can be rewarded with up to 30 percent of said team’s salary cap the following season. Westbrook, who met the criteria, was eligible for such a raise, however as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoosports.com writes, “Westbrook gets an extension that pays him 25 percent of the Thunder's cap and preserves space that allows the franchise to construct future deals for James Harden and Serge Ibaka.”
Sam Presti might be one of if not the best GMs in the NBA, and it’s highly doubtable that he would award Westbrook such a lucrative deal if there was a rift between he and the Thunder’s perennial MVP candidate, Kevin Durant. Likewise, it’s highly unlikely Westbrook — who is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer — would not receive close to the same offer from any number of teams next offseason. If Westbrook was truly unhappy with Durant and his role in the Thunder’s organization, perhaps he wouldn’t have been so inclined to accept the haircut the Thunder were offering.
http://thefanhub.com/posts/detail/276895/Durant-Westbrook-Rift-Ends-with-Westbrooks-New-Deal
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