Report: Thunder, Waiters working on extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder and shooting guard Dion Waiters are actively exploring a contract extension ahead of the Nov. 2 deadline to do so for members of the 2012 draft class, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

Waiters, 23, arrived in Oklahoma City from the Cleveland Cavaliers in last January's three-way trade that saw J.R. Smith go to the Cavs. Between the two teams last season, he averaged 11.8 points on 39.2 percent shooting from the field - the lowest marks of his three-year career.

The No. 4 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft has seen fellow rookies that year such as Anthony Davis, Jonas Valanciunas, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist reach rookie extensions, with another one expected for the likes of Andre Drummond. If the Nov. 2 deadline passes without a deal, Waiters would become a restricted free agent next summer.

The Syracuse product is often maligned as a volume shooter - his 11.8 points per game last season came on exactly 11.8 field goal attempts - who lacks upside in the form of a reliable outside stroke. Waiters started 20 games for the Thunder mostly at two-guard last season, and figures to be in competition with defensive specialist Andre Roberson for the starting spot this year.