Thunder in the news: Russ extension, Chris Paul to Rockets
By Tony Heim
Thunderous Intentions provides OKC Thunder fans with a daily post dedicated to highlighting the best Oklahoma City content across the web.
It seems like there’s only two happy NBA franchises out there. You have the yucky Warriors fans who are already getting tired of winning easy championships. Then there’s those plucky Oklahoma City Thunder fans, excited about their MVP, Dunker of the Year, Best Dressed and Game Winner of the Year. The Thunder may not have won the Finals but they sure did give us a ton of highlights.
Russ rumored to be ready for an extension
Things can’t get any better in Oklahoma City. Okay yes, maybe they can. But things are pretty darn good in the Midwest as of now. The Thunder are prepared to offer Russ an extension as soon as midnight strikes July 1st; according to ESPN’s Royce Young he’s ready to accept it.
"But before all of that “what’s next?” talk, there’s a far more pressing matter for Westbrook. The Thunder will offer him a brand-new, five-year extension — Westbrook is locked in for 2017-18 — when the clock strikes midnight on July 1, making him one of the highest-paid players in NBA history, should he take it. It would signal a complete commitment to the Thunder, with Westbrook shucking any thoughts of joining a super-team elsewhere to take on the Golden State Warriors juggernaut, as he embarks on a mission to slay the giant on his own terms. Those close to Westbrook fully expect him to take the Thunder’s offer, quite possibly at 12:01 a.m., and stabilize the franchise and present a clear road map. Westbrook signed an extension last summer and invoked the word “loyalty” for a reason. He wanted to make a statement — a public declaration — and take on the burden of leading the franchise forward."
Jerami Grant option picked up
Even more important news is the commitment to Jerami Grant for next season. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical tweeted it, but Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript discussed why it matters for Oklahoma City.
"Though picking up such a cheap 2017-18 option seems intuitive, the Thunder could have reasonably declined it. Doing so would have pushed Grant into team-friendly restricted free agency this offseason, allowing OKC to match any offer sheet and bring him back for the same price, though he certainly would have made more than the $1.5 million Oklahoma City will now pay him for 2017-18. But instead of declining it, the Thunder picked up Grant’s option, and Grant will now be an unrestricted free agent in 2018. The Thunder hope to build up Grant’s effectiveness guarding multiple positions, aiming to turn the 23-year-old into a versatile defender who can guard both around the basket and on the perimeter. They tested that part of his game throughout the regular season and used him as someone to switch onto Rockets star James Harden during their playoff series."
The trade that may change the West
Chris Paul to the Rockets. Wow. James Harden and Chris Paul may sound like a strange basketball relationship, but anybody who can potentially contend with Golden State is a worthy experiment. The NBA.com staff compiled a mess of tweets and statistics surrounding the trade.
"Paul has been the leader in Los Angeles for the last six seasons with averages of 18.8 points, 9.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He would join forces with Kia MVP runner-up James Harden and Coach of the Year Mike D’Antoni in Houston to form one of the most dynamic offenses in the NBA."