On triggers for the 30 percent maximum player salary

[Bluewhale]

Is it possible that Russell Westbrook for the 30 percent maximum salary when he extend his contract?

If so, he could make more than Durant?

[Dunkenstein]

Is it possible that Russell Westbrook for the 30 percent maximum salary when he extend his contract?

If so, he could make more than Durant?

For a player coming off his rookie contract to be eligible to receive a 30% contract he must meet one of three criteria:
(i) named to the All-NBA first, second, or third team two times, (ii)
voted in as an All-Star starter two times, or (iii) named NBA MVP one
time.

Since Westbrook was named to the All-NBA second team last year, if if is named to an All-NBA team again this year, he would be eligible to receive a 30% contract. If, for the sake of argument, we say next year's salary cap increases to $60M, then his salary would start at $18M which would be greater than Durant's $15m 2012-13 salary.

[Bluewhale]

Thanks. This is a pretty good player win in the new CBA.

[DBoys]

Is it possible that Russell Westbrook for the 30 percent maximum salary when he extend his contract?

If so, he could make more than Durant?

For a player coming off his rookie contract to be eligible to receive a 30% contract he must meet one of three criteria:
(i) named to the All-NBA first, second, or third team two times, (ii)
voted in as an All-Star starter two times, or (iii) named NBA MVP one
time.

Since Westbrook was named to the All-NBA second team last year, if if is named to an All-NBA team again this year, he would be eligible to receive a 30% contract. If, for the sake of argument, we say next year's salary cap increases to $60M, then his salary would start at $18M which would be greater than Durant's $15m 2012-13 salary.

Returning to this issue, Durant actually got the 30% not 25%.

Durant will get 16.67M in 2012-13. If I understand the new CBA correctly, Westbrook's max - if he qualifies for the 30% - would be no less than ~15.5M and the only way he can get paid more than Durant is in the event the cap increases from 2011-12 to 21012-13 by more than 7.5%, or to ~$62.4M or more. Probably won't happen. If it does, it may create an interesting challenge for the Thunder to deal with.

[answerthink]

A team can provide an extension to a first round pick who has not yet met the criteria to be eligible for the larger contract (as specified by Dunkenstein above) that stipulates that the player’s salary will be 25% of the adjusted salary cap during the first season of the extended term, or, if the player meets the criteria to be eligible for the larger contract, a specified percentage of the adjusted salary cap during the first season of the extended term of between 25% and 30%.

The contract of a player who receives 25% would start at no less than $13.7 million for next season. The contract of a player who qualifies for, and receives, the full 30% would start at no less than $16.4 million for next season.

[Dunkenstein]

As Ken Berger points out today on CBSSports.com: "Since Kevin Durant signed his five-year extension before the new collective bargaining agreement was in effect, the Thunder was able to extend Russell Westbrook for five years." Both got five-year deals, but Westbrook got his by being named the Thunder's Designated Player.

The Thunder amended Durant's contract to 30% as allowed by the new CBA. At the same time, Durant's yearly raises were reduced from the 10.5% in his original contract to the 7.5% stipulated under the new CBA.

While Westbrook's extension is reported as 25% of the salary cap, what we don't know is whether there is a clause in his extension contract which says he could get greater than 25% (up to 30%) if he is named to a second All-NBA team at the end of this season, before the extension takes effect.