Victor Oladipo, Thunder agree on 4-year, $84M extension
The
Oklahoma City Thunder are locking up their young core, agreeing on a four-year extension with guard
Victor Oladipo worth $84 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
An extension with center
Steven Adamsis imminent and is expected to be completed before the midnight deadline on Monday, according to sources. Guard
Andre Roberson is also engaged in extension talks with the Thunder.
Kevin Durant's departure and
Russell Westbrook's extension, the Thunder have transitioned to reshaping the roster around Westbrook. With unknowns ahead in a new collective bargaining agreement, the Thunder are holding on to what they can control. The Thunder were poised to become potential players in free agency next summer, chasing players like homegrown star
Blake Griffin, but with cap holds expected to jump in the new system, getting to max-level cap space while still retaining Adams and Oladipo became an unlikely scenario.
The Thunder were keen on extending Adams and Oladipo to keep them from getting to restricted free agency. As many as 20 teams could get to max-level cap space next summer, so anything less than that for either potentially saves the Thunder a lot of money. Oladipo's $84 million contract comes in around $21 million below a max deal, and a reported $100 million deal for Adams is $4 million under the max number. Both players expressed a desire to re-up with the Thunder long term, with Oladipo even saying at the team's media day in September he had dreamed of playing for the Thunder as long as a year ago, and he didn't have an eye on anywhere else.
"I literally thought about being here a year ago, and thought what it would be like to be on this team. And for it to actually happen, it's a surreal experience, and I know that it's supposed to be the way it is now," Oladipo said. "I mean, it might sound crazy, but I'm definitely excited about it."
Oladipo, 24, was traded to the Thunder on draft night in a deal that sent
Serge Ibaka to the
Orlando Magic. In three seasons, Oladipo holds career averages of 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Adams, 23, emerged as a key part of the team's foundation last postseason, averaging a double-double in the series against the Spurs and Warriors. In three seasons, Adams is averaging 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.