Oklahoma City Thunder Rumors: Should Fans Worry About Russell Westbrook Moving if Extension Deadline Passes?
Deadline for Westbrook to sign his Supermax extension is Oct. 16
The 2017-18 NBA regular season will begin on Oct. 17. However, there is another date of note coming up before then that Oklahoma City Thunder fans should keep in mind.
That date is Oct. 16, which is better known in NBA circles as the final day that teams can sign players to extensions if certain conditions are met.
It just so happens that reigning MVP and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is one of those players who can opt to sign an extension on or before Oct. 16.
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To this point, however, Westbrook has not done so.
Westbrook was asked why he has opted not to affix his signature to the Thunder's extension offer just recently, and this recent tweet from USA Today's Sam Amick includes the superstar's response.
For those who may not have been able to play the video, Westbrook avoided answering the question and instead reiterated that Oklahoma City was where he wanted to be. He also mentioned that he was excited for the upcoming season.
Comforting as it may be for Thunder fans to hear that Westbrook is happy where he is right now, they would probably be ecstatic if he finally signs that extension offer.
After all, from a financial perspective, there may be no more reason for Westbrook to hold out on signing the contract extension. As Metro US noted, the dollar amount on that extension offer is not going to increase any more even if Westbrook waits until the deadline, so that is likely not the reason for why the reigning MVP has still not signed with the Thunder long-term.
So what other reason could there be?
Well, it is entirely possible that Westbrook just wants to keep his options.
The Thunder have reloaded this offseason by bringing in high-scoring wings Paul George and Carmelo Anthony via trades. But even with those roster upgrades, the team may still find itself on the losing end against other powerhouses like the Golden State Warriors.
It is understandable that Westbrook may not want to lock himself into a situation where he annually puts up eye-popping numbers for teams that may have no real shot at winning the championship.
Signing that extension may take away Westbrook's ability to find a better situation for himself.
It is not the most positive sign for Thunder fans that Westbrook is still not signed to the team long-term, but it may just have to be something they deal with as they get ready to again witness the dynamic guard do his thing this upcoming NBA season.
More news about the latest NBA rumors should be made available soon.
