Over the past month, we’ve seen a very unusual trend emerge in the NBA, where two star players have agreed to renegotiate and extend their current deals, rather than accelerate their path to free agency.
First, the Rockets signed James four year, $118 million extension, with a player option for the 2019-20 season. Then, earlier this week Russell Westbrook agreed to a three year, $85 million extension with the Thunder that includes a player option for the 2018-19 season.
Renegotiating and extending was a win-win for both sides. James Harden and Russell Westbrook get to cash in like the players who were fortunate enough to hit free agency during this summer’s cap spike, and the Thunder and Rockets get to keep their stars under team control for several years.