Fourteen months ago, Russell Westbrook agreed to an extension some hailed as a sign of loyalty and commitment exactly a month after Kevin Durant announced he was taking his talents to the Bay Area. That deal was a matter of necessity and risk mitigation for Westbrook, as that renegotiation and extension raised his salary for the 2016-17 season and lined him up for unrestricted free agency with the highest possible maximum salary.

Friday’s announcement that the reigning MVP would agree to a Designated Veteran extension is the actual earth-shaking commitment for the NBA and Thunder. While it was also the financially sound decision, Westbrook made a definitive choice to spend the remainder of his prime with the franchise that drafted him.

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While we will not know exact terms until after this season, Westbrook is line for five years and $205,030,000, according to the league’s just-released $101 million salary cap estimate for 2018-19, with a player option for the 2022-23 season worth an eye-popping $46.662 million. The new contract does not contain a no-trade clause because Westbrook has not accumulated enough NBA experience, but it appears likely that his $35,350,000 starting salary and maximum eight percent raises will outpace the gains in the salary cap now that the lucrative national TV deal has been incorporated.

Westbrook retains his place as the central figure and guiding light for the franchise, who will largely rise or fall with him despite the presence of significant surrounding talent. With him and Steven Adams locked in on long-term contracts, the Thunder should not expect to have significant cap space until at least 2020, regardless of whether new acquisitions Paul George and Carmelo Anthony choose to stay.

Some will interpret that lack of flexibility as dangerous for the Thunder, but their committed core provides them with a better opportunity than most NBA franchises, especially those in smaller markets. Westbrook gives them an identity and persistent relevance around the basketball world.

Last season, Oklahoma City sold out every single one of their home games despite losing one of the league’s best players. Patrick Patterson joining the Thunder for the Mid-Level exception is another encouraging development as rotation or even starting-caliber players being willing to take the MLE or less opens up new avenues for the team to improve their depth now and moving forward. While it remains to be seen whether Westbrook can attract talented teammates in future seasons, just about every elite team in the modern NBA relies on this form of discounted labor, and it makes a significant difference over an 82-game regular season.

Westbrook will turn 30 about a month after playing his first game under the new portion of his contract, and it will likely cover at least a few post-prime seasons, but that is a frequent cost of doing business for an NBA franchise with talented players. Furthermore, he has plenty of room to decrease in impact but still help a team consistently win games: a less dangerous Russell Westbrook will still be an awfully good player.

Even pricing in that downside reality, this was an offer Oklahoma City had to make. Thanks to a Herculean effort by Westbrook last season and some shrewd moves by general manager Sam Presti, the Thunder were in a surprisingly good place, but staying competitive can be an even more daunting challenge. It remains to be seen if Westbrook’s early commitment makes George more willing to stay long-term, but the combination of Westbrook, Adams and Oladipo’s $21 million annual salary would have created a more burdensome foundation without as much upside.

(Note: Enes Kanter's trade kicker as part of the deal for Anthony is not included below. The additional salary would not have been on OKC's books if the Thunder had decided to keep him.)

(SN's Danny Leroux) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/64/51/thunder-contract-comparison-chart-100217jpg_1b7izgsxk2j7c1ly9gbtdnc8j1.png?t=-577315090&w=500&quality=80

Another significant component of this agreement is that now each of the players eligible to sign a Designated Veteran contract or extension have chosen the commitment with Westbrook joining Stephen Curry, James Harden and John Wall.

The 2018 crop of eligible players is weaker since George, Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward and DeMarcus Cousins are all out of contention (though Kawhi Leonard and perhaps Klay Thompson will be possibilities), but Westbrook’s commitment could loom as a potential data point for Anthony Davis. While the New Orleans star is still two full seasons away from his own opportunity to sign a Designated Veteran extension, the precedent could be five out of five or six out of six eligible players making the commitment. That understanding could embolden the Pelicans front office to keep Davis, even in some worst-case scenarios next summer.

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While it can be hard to quantify, Westbrook’s extension also frames this season for both George and Anthony. Each can experience these 82 games (and playoffs, presumably) as a test run of sorts for a potential commitment of their own. Both have the choice of whether to be unrestricted free agents in 2018 and will have their share of intriguing suitors, but now Oklahoma City can pitch them on a long-term opportunity they will know from firsthand experience.

The other major impact of this extension is a weakening of the 2018 free agent class. It will still be a star-studded group that includes LeBron James, Chris Paul and George, but Westbrook would have been an MVP-caliber contributor about to enter his thirties. Any visions the Lakers had of starting a hometown product next to Lonzo Ball in the backcourt have been dashed, and Isaiah Thomas looks to be the most intriguing available point guard on the open market if Paul elects to stay in Houston. Teams still looking for a primary ball handler will be hard-pressed to find one next offseason.

Fortunately for the Thunder, they will not be in that situation for a long time. Whether their high-profile additions decide to stick around beyond this season, Westbrook’s commitment gives them stability and relevance for the next half-decade.