Nazr Mohammed Agrees To Extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder has agreed to a contract extension with center Nazr Mohammed, effectively keeping the 13-year veteran from becoming an unrestricted free agent on Friday, The Oklahoman has learned.

Terms of the deal, which could be announced as early as Tuesday, were not immediately known. But the extension is for one year.

As a player with 10-plus years of NBA service, Mohammed’s is entitled to a minimum contract of $1,399,507. Mohammed earned $6,883,800 this season.

Both Mohammed and Thunder management had expressed their desire to get a new deal done.

Mohammed, who was acquired in a deadline-day trade with Charlotte that sent D.J. White and Morris Peterson to the Bobcats, quickly grew attached to the Thunder organization and its group of young talent. In 24 games, seven as a starter, with the Thunder, Mohammed averaged 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. He helped the Thunder reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in the franchise’s Oklahoma City era.

Thunder coaches and front office members were impressed with Mohammed’s performance, professionalism and stabilizing veteran presence on a team that was one of the youngest in the league last season. With Mohammed returning, the Thunder keeps intact a quartet of centers that also includes starter Kendrick Perkins and reserves Cole Aldrich and Byron Mullens.