What Does Aleksej Pokusevski's Injury Mean For Contract Extension?

Aleksej Pokusevski simply can't catch a break.

On Wednesday, the Thunder's PR team announced that the 21-year-old from Serbia has a sprained ankle and will be out for six weeks. The 7-footer was forced to miss FIBA World Cup action with injury rehab and is developing an injury prone history early into his career. 

Before the developing ankle injury, Poku was sidelined for a reported four to six weeks after suffering a fracture in his shooting arm. The arm injury was the one that caused him to miss action for Team Serbia. Both injuries, a forearm and this recent ankle sprain, happened during a summer workout setting.

In addition to the latest string of unfortunate injuries, Pokusevski is coming off a season in which he played just 34 games. He suffered a left leg fracture that caused him to miss nearly two months and other minor injuries along the way. The worst part, is he really started to flash before the injury bug bit.

Before Pokusevski's recent injuries, a contract extension seemed on the horizon. Now, it's hard to judge where he stands with the Thunder in terms of a long term deal. 

The Thunder could likely find value in his contract now because of how much court time he has missed, but with the growing list of prospects and talent on the roster, it's hard to reserve spots. 

It appears the most likely outcome for Pokusevski is dipping into restricted free agency. That could very likely benefit both parties, too. Pokusevski could still have a big time season and play his way into a bigger deal this summer. The ankle injury will keep him out of training camp and cause him to miss the start of the season, but he'll still have a chance to come back strong.

The Thunder can let the market determine Pokusevski's value during free agency and play the situation accordingly. If he has a good year, Oklahoma City could very well try and extend him during the summer. At his best, Pokusevski is the exact type of player that fits perfectly with the team's young core.