Updated: June 30, 2012, 12:39 AM ET
By Marc Stein | ESPN.comThe Oklahoma City Thunder and coach Scott Brooks are closing in on a new contract after drawn-out negotiations, according to sources close to the process.
Sources told ESPN.com on Friday night that Brooks and the Thunder, after slow-moving talks that had left the sides well apart by the end of the NBA Finals earlier this month, soon will finalize a new four-year deal to follow up the contract that expires Saturday.
Although the financial specifics were not yet known, ESPN.com reported last week that the Thunder's most recent offer was "north of $4 million" annually.
"They are getting close," one source briefed on the discussions said.
Brooks earned just $4 million over the past two seasons while the Thunder rose quickly from the team that started 1-12 in 2008-09 in the franchise's first season in Oklahoma City into the ranks of title contention.
ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported earlier Friday that the Thunder originally offered him a three-year extension worth between $11 million and $12 million before this past season began. In the wake of this season's trip to the NBA Finals, Bucher reported, Oklahoma City recently increased the offer to roughly four years for $16 million.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made $3 million this year, sources told Bucher. Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks, meanwhile, recently signed an extension that netted him only a $100,000 raise -- from $4.5 million to $4.6 million -- in the first year of the new deal after guiding the Mavericks to their first championship in franchise history in 2011.
NBA coaching sources have said for weeks that both the Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic had Brooks high on their respective lists had the Thunder decided not to bring the 46-year-old back.
ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher contributed to this report.
Marc Stein | email
Senior Writer, ESPN.comSenior NBA writer for ESPN.com
Began covering the NBA in 1993-94
Has also covered soccer, tennis and the Olympics
No comments:
Post a Comment