Scott Brooks, Thunder Agree On 4-Year Contract Extension

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The Oklahoma City Thunder’s most notable free agent, coach Scott Brooks, still doesn’t have a deal, and his contract with the club has expired. SI.com’s Sam Amick reports that the two sides aren’t as close as previously believed on a deal to keep Brooks in Oklahoma City.

Amick reports that the Thunder initially offered a three-year deal worth $11 million. Brooks is looking for a fourth year and additional salary. Only two teams are currently without a head coach: the Portland Trail Blazers and the Orlando Magic.

Financial details are still unknown, but it was reported last week that the Thunder were offering more than $4 million per season.

Brooks led the Thunder to a 47-19 record and a berth in the NBA Finals this season. It was his third full season as head coach after he took over the job midway through the 2008-09 season. Brooks has coached 299 regular season games in Oklahoma City, compiling a 174-125 overall record.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Thunder have added a fourth year to the contract extension offered to Brooks, but that the two sides remain fairly far apart in their ideas for the coach’s annual salary.

Brooks believes that his back-to-back trips to the Western Conference finals and this year’s Western Conference championship should elevate his pay rate to the upper tier of NBA head coaches. The Thunder front office may not necessarily agree.

Brooks and the Oklahoma City Thunder are having trouble coming to terms on a new contract that would reportedly pay him substantially less than one would expect for someone who just led his team to the NBA Finals. Further complicating matters, the newest rumor reported by ESPN’s Marc Stein says that the Thunder would look to veteran coaches who would likely demand a much larger salary if Brooks doesn’t return to Oklahoma City.

For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome To Loud City.