The Oklahoma City Thunder put a price tag to Russell Westbrook's value.
The team and player reportedly agreed to a three-year deal late Wednesday night. The deal is reportedly worth $85.7 million, which would give him the third-highest average annual value (just under $28.6 million), behind Mike Conley ($30.5 million) and James Harden ($29.5 million).
Westbrook's past indicates that he's well worth the money. He ranked second and third in the NBA in PER the past two seasons, and seventh and third in those seasons in Basketball-Reference.com's win shares stat.
Last season, Westbrook became the fourth player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds, joining Oscar Robertson (five times), Magic Johnson (three times) and Chris Paul (once).
Westbrook was second in the NBA last season in points responsible for (46.3), trailing only Harden (46.8). He has ranked first or second in the NBA in fast-break points per game in each of the last four seasons.
And with Kevin Durant now with the Warriors, those numbers should now increase. Two seasons ago, Westbrook played 40 games without Durant in the lineup and the Elias Sports Bureau notes that he averaged 30.7 points, 9.1 assists and 7.7 rebounds.
This is not the Thunder team of a few years ago. Only Westbrook and Nick Collison remain from the team that went to the 2011-12 NBA Finals against the Heat. The Thunder's primary addition this offseason was guard Victor Oladipo, who has averaged 15.9 points in three NBA seasons. But he's a long way from Durant. Oladipo ranks tied for 103rd in PER with Khris Middleton over the last two seasons.
