The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a 20-year executive with the Nets, looks at the options for Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With the Kevin Durant defection to Golden State now in the rear-view mirror, the focus now turns to Russell Westbrook.

The recent cap spike caused the perfect storm that allowed the Warriors to land Durant, but now presents the perfect opportunity for Oklahoma City to retain Westbrook.

Westbrook, entering the final year of his five-year rookie extension, is eligible to have his current contract renegotiated to add both salary and years.

The path Oklahoma City chooses with Westbrook will certainly shape the direction of the organization.

THE RENEGOTIATION

The logistics

Players under four- or five-year contracts can either extend or renegotiate after the three-year anniversary of when the deal was signed.

The amount of years added to the contract cannot exceed four, including what is currently left on the contract.

In Westbrook’s case, Oklahoma City can add an additional three years to his current contract but would need to use cap space now to change the salary parameters.

Like the Rockets recently with James Harden, the benefit of choosing the renegotiation route not only rewards the player financially but also the team.

Harden, who was set to become a free agent in 2018, is now signed to a max contract that reflects the new TV money but also makes a longer commitment to the Rockets.

Creating cap space

The restricted free agency of Dion Waiters will play a role in determining cap space for the Thunder.

Although the Thunder currently have $7.1 million in room, including Waiters’ $12.8 million cap hold, Oklahoma City is still $1.6 million short in pushing Westbrook’s salary from $17.8 million to the $26.5 million max.

For Oklahoma City to preserve cap space, Waiters’ first-year salary would have to start at $11.1 million.

Anything above the $11.1 million figure would have the Thunder relegated to the trade market to create additional room.

There are also two different options with Oklahoma City and Waiters.

Waiters can sign the one-year, $6.7 million qualifying offer or the Thunder can withdraw the qualifying offer and renounce Waiters.

These scenarios would allow the Thunder to have cap flexibility next summer and leave the option open to land a marquee free agent.

View photos Regardless of the contract route Westbrook chooses, he is in line for some serious money. (AP) More

Financial incentive

The Westbrook renegotiation would be different than Harden’s with the Rockets.

Harden had an additional two years left on his contract and earned an additional $20 million combined in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. They were the remaining years under his 2012 rookie extension.

Westbrook only has one year remaining on his contract and a renegotiation would see his deal increase from $17.7 million to $26.5 million.

The difference in salary for the 2017-18 season in a renegotiated contract compared to signing as a free agent is a wash.

Westbrook must decide if an additional $8.8 million presents a fair trade-off to bypass free agency next summer.

Contract breakdown

Although Oklahoma City could renegotiate his contract for an additional three seasons, the best approach for Westbrook would be to look at a short-term commitment.

Westbrook, currently with eight years of service, could renegotiate his salary for this season to reflect a max-level contract while adding two additional years, with the third being a player option.

This approach would have Westbrook becoming a free agent in 2018, when he reaches 10 years of service and becomes a Tier 3 max player.

Waiting another year for free agency would see Westbrook’s salary start at $35 million in 2018 instead of $28.6 million.

The short-term commitment

Current salary OKC renegotiation

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