Another contract for Thunder to work out
Thunder coach Scott Brooks is up for contract renewal.
Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had until Wednesday to sign a rookie contract extension, or wait until the summer and become a restricted free agent. Six days before the deadline, Westbrook agreed to a five-year extension with OKC worth an estimated $80 million.
Westbrook is now under contract through the 2016-17 season and will be surrounded by familiar faces for several seasons.
Two-time scoring champ Kevin Durant is signed through 2015-16, Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison are signed through 2014-15 and Thabo Sefolosha through 2013-14.
Next on the agenda are rookie contract extensions for James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Eric Mayor, who are signed through 2012-13, as is Daequan Cook.
Rarely has an NBA team been able to re-sign its top nine players for an extended period of time. For OKC to be in a position to do so is somewhat unfathomable. However, quietly the clock ticks even faster on another key “core” component of the franchise’s continuing success.
This is the final contract year of coach Scott Brooks, whose winning percentage has climbed steadily since becoming the Thunder’s coach – from 22-47 (.319) as interim coach in 2008-09, to 50-32 (.610) his first full season, to 55-27 (.671) last season, to 13-3 (.813) so far this season.
Asked Monday morning if he was concerned about extending his contract, the 46-year-old Brooks smiled and said: “I’ve got a contract. I have a job. There are 30 great jobs in the NBA, and I’ve got one of them. I’m with a great organization, a great place to be.”
Brooks is represented by agent Warren LeGarie, who represents many NBA coaches and front-office executives.
Brooks said he has no expectations to what a new deal might entail. “We’ll see,” Brooks said with a shrug. “I’m not even focused on that. I’ve got a group of guys who love to be coach and it’s fun to see their development. That’s all I’m focusing on.”
Thunder general manager Sam Presti reiterated his policy of not publicly discussing contract negotiations involving team personnel, but added, “I think everybody knows how we feel about Scotty and we hope he remains with the organization for many years to come. I have a lot of respect for Scott. We have been through a lot over the last four years, but that’s part of the process when you’re trying to build something that can last and endure. It’s great to come to work with someone that is committed to the organization. That means a lot here. It’s easy to support him as our coach.”
Presti did not share a specific timetable in resolving Brooks’ future status, but Brooks isn’t exactly playing hard to get. “Sam and I have a great, open communication,” Brooks said. “I love the guys I coach. This is where I want to be.”
In the past, Presti has waited until the end of the season to announce contract issues with Brooks, who had the “interim” label lifted on April 15, 2009, the final day of the regular season. On May 4, 2010, four days after a first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Thunder announced it had picked up Brooks’ third-year option, which extended him through the 2011-12 season.
Brooks became an assistant under Seattle SuperSonics coach P.J. Carlisemo at the start of the 2007-08 season and was named interim head coach when Carlesimo was fired 13 games (1-12) into the 2008-09 season.
Brooks won the 2009-10 Red Auerbach NBA Coach of the Year Award in his first full season in charge, directing a 27-win improvement (from 23-59 to 50-32) that tied for eighth largest in NBA history.
Terms of Brooks’ current deal have never been announced, but he is believed to be making $1.75 million this year.
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