NBA: OKC Thunder Pick Up Options for James Harden, Eric Maynor, Others

The Oklahoma City Thunder has exercised contract options on five players today, according to the team’s official web site. 

Thunder guards James Harden, Eric Maynor, forward Serge Ibaka, and center Byron Mullens had their fourth year options exercised today, while center Cole Aldrich had his third-year option exercised. 

Harden was the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and has become an integral part of the Thunder team. His scoring off the bench was a big part of OKC’s run to the Western Conference Finals in 2011. 

Ibaka has become a defensive force, and led the 2011 NBA playoffs with 52 blocked shots. 

Maynor has become a very good role player, and is fully capable of being a starting point guard in the NBA. 

Both Mullens and Aldrich are former first round picks, and appeared in just 31 combined games this past season. 

Nicholas Goss is an NBA and Oklahoma City Thunder featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, follow him on Twitter for NBA and Thunder news and analysis.