Thunder sign Victor Oladipo to $84 million extension
By Adam Stocker
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Victor Oladipo to an $84 million extension.
Three games into the NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have extended the contract of guard Victor Oladipo for four years and $84 million, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania.
The Thunder acquired the former second-overall pick from the Orlando Magic in a draft day trade that saw the Thunder send big man Serge Ibaka to Orlando for Oladipo, Ersan Illyasova and 11th-overall pick Domantas Sabonis.
In three games with the Thunder, Oladipo is averaging 36 minutes and 17 points per game, despite poor shooting performances in those three games. If the Thunder hope to make a playoff run, Oladipo will have to up his offensive efficiency and shooting percentage. The four-year extension ties Oladipo to the Thunder through his age 29 season.
Oladipo’s annual salary of $21 million falls right in line with other contracts signed this off-season after the NBA saw its salary cap skyrocket with increased television revenue. In comparison, the Atlanta Hawks extended the contract of guard Kent Bazemore for four seasons and $70 million (average salary $17.5 million).
Last season Bazemore averaged 11.6 points in 27.8 minutes per game in his best season to date. But the 27-year-old’s career averages are just 6.4 points and 16.6 minutes over his five-year career.
The extension of Oladipo and Russell Westbrook earlier this off-season gives the Thunder their back court stability until 2019, when Westbrook’s current contract expires. In addition to the Oladipo extension, the Thunder are rumored to be close to an extension with center Steven Adams.
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For the fans of the Thunder, they are given some stability that their top players will not bolt in free agency following former MVP Kevin Durant’s decision sign with the Golden State Warriors in free agency.