The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly signed shooting guard Victor Oladipo to a four-year, $84 million extension.
News of the extension was first reported by Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Thunder Sign Victor Oladipo to Four-Year Extension
Oladipo, 24, was part of a draft night trade this off-season. The Orlando Magic traded Oladipo, in a deal which saw long-time Thunder forward Serge Ibaka go the other way. The deal came as a surprise to many, with Oladipo averaging 16 points and 3.9 assists per game last season in Orlando. The No. 2 overall pick back in 2013, Oladipo was arguably the most talented player on the Magic’s roster.
Oladipo has fit in well with his new team thus far. He averaged an impressive 17 points per game in his first three games with the Thunder. Some questioned whether or not Oladipo would have the same offensive impact as he did in Orlando. That was mainly due to the star presence of MVP candidate Russell Westbrook. However, early indications point to Oladipo becoming a success in Oklahoma City. Westbrook and Oladipo will look to become one of the NBA‘s best backcourts.
This large extension looks to be the first of two this week in Oklahoma City, as center Steven Adams is set to sign a huge four-year, $100 million contract in the coming days. The Thunder appear to be locking up key players for future, with Oladipo and Adams both being under the age of 25.
This off-season, general manager Sam Presti had the task of moving on from Kevin Durant. Keeping his team’s best young talent is a great way to start. This Thunder team will look to once again be competitive in the Western Conference. Westbrook looks ready to dominate every night, and the frontcourt has great potential. Winning 50 or more games this year will be a challenge for head coach Billy Donovan, but with this balanced roster, the Thunder look better prepared than most.
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