Nazr Mohammed signs one year extension with Oklahoma City Thunder - NBA Update
Veteran centre Nazr Mohammed has inked a one year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC). The 6 ft 10in player had publically expressed his desire to stay at the Oklahoma City franchise about a month back and in
keeping with the trend of preserving their class of 2010-11, the Thunder have fulfilled the desire of the well travelled veteran. This in effect, has also saved Nazr to hit the free agency with the NBA Lockout in place.
OKC General Manager Sam Presti declared this Wednesday, “We are pleased to be able to keep Nazr in the Thunder family. He is a valuable part of our organization both on and off the floor. His professionalism, experience and on-court
play have had a positive impact on our young and evolving roster."
Nazr earned nearly 6.8 million dollars in the previous season with the Thunder, while his current contract is worth $3.75 million, according to the sources. The remaining terms of his pact have not been revealed. With the signing
of this contract, Mohammed will now enter into his 13th season, depending upon when the lockout actually culminates.
Earlier Mohammed had spent three seasons with Charlotte Bobcats, but in 2011 the franchise traded him to the Thunder and in return they received forward D.J. White and guard Morris Peterson.
At Oklahoma City, Nazr played most of his games as a back up to Kendrick Perkins. He was very much part of OKC’s policy of introducing war hardened veteran at the back court and as such, he didn’t disappoint and posted averages
of 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in the 24 games he featured in.
The Thunder have been very intent to continue with the same combination this and for this very reason, in one way or another, they have ensured that their young core and the pool of veterans stay and take the franchise forward.
Kevin Durant, the forward who is at the centre of all this build-up, echoed the same feelings.
"We like this team. We're going to stick together and see what we can get out of this. The team last year, our chemistry was really good as the season went on. We didn't end the way we wanted to but I think we were growing as a
group throughout the playoffs and we wanted to stick that thing together.”
The Thunder ideology is trading on the same lines as that of Dallas Mavericks, the team against whom OKC lost the Western Conference Finals. Despite, losing multiple times in the playoffs, the Mavs never reshuffled their roster.
Instead they kept on building their resources till they finally broke through this year. Considering the fact, that the Okc team is still very young and extremely talented, this might be the right way to go.
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