Following up on his recent report that Russell Westbrook amended the payment schedule on his contract upon being traded to the Rockets, Marc Stein of The New York Times provided some additional details in his newsletter this week.
According to Stein, Westbrook’s contract previously called for 25 percent of his $38.5M salary to be paid on Aug. 1 and again on Oct. 1. As part of his trade to the Rockets, those installments were adjusted downward to 12.5 percent of his salary, meaning they’re now worth $4.8M apiece instead of $9.6M, Stein writes.
The changes will allow Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta to avoid paying half of Westbrook’s $38.5M salary by Oct. 1. Under Fertitta, the club has been averse to making significant upfront payments in a variety of transactions — when Houston traded cash in three
separate
deals during the 2018-19 league year, it always sent that cash in many installments, rather than in a single lump sum.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Former NBA point guard Greivis Vasquez, who played for six teams over the course of seven seasons from 2010-17, has been named the associate head coach of the Pelicans‘ new G League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Vasquez will work under Ryan Pannone, the head coach of the expansion Erie BayHawks.
- New Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins spoke to Peter Edmiston of The Athletic about how he filled out his coaching staff and what traits he and the front office prioritized as they hired assistants. According to Jenkins, Brad Jones will be his lead assistant.
- Boban Marjanovic had his best NBA season in 2018-19, averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 58 games (11.7 MPG) for the Clippers and Sixers. Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News looks at what sort of role Marjanovic might have with the Mavericks after signing a two-year contract with the club.
