Thunderous Intentions
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Thunderous Thoughts: A better offseason for OKC Thunder fans

By Jeremy Lambert

Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Shirts adorn the seating inside the arena prior to action between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Shirts adorn the seating inside the arena prior to action between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) in action during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeat the Mavericks 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) in action during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeat the Mavericks 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Welcome to Thunderous Thoughts, a weekly look at the OKC Thunder where the main story ranges from feelings to fictions. This week: feelings.

Good news, OKC Thunder fans, this offseason won’t be as bad as last offseason. No matter what happens, there’s no possible way that it’ll be as bad as last year.

Russell Westbrook can decline the triple-double extension. We can spend months dealing with rumors pertaining to a Westbrook trade. Westbrook can be traded. It still won’t be as bad as last offseason.

“Trading the reigning MVP isn’t bad?” No, trading the reigning MVP is terrible. But at least OKC will get something back in the trade. At least it will signify a full blown rebuild and our expectations will be tempered. Most importantly, at least they won’t lose him for nothing to a 73-win team.

Westbrook can be traded, Kanter can be traded, Roberson can sign elsewhere, Gibson can sign elsewhere. All of that combined and it still won’t be as bad as last offseason. It’ll be depressing. We Thunder fans will be resigned to the fact that we’re no longer a playoff team. We won’t even have a spectacular regular season to look forward to. But it’s still not as bad as losing your best player to your biggest rival for nothing.

RELATED: Long live The Only MVP

How do you think Clippers fans are feeling today? They haven’t had nearly the same success as the Thunder had over the last six years. They just lost their franchise player and one of the best point guards in the league to a rival team. But, at least they got something. At least they got pieces to get them through this season, pieces they can possibly trade at the deadline. The Clippers are no longer a threat in the West – no one is in the current Warriors-run climate – but their current core wasn’t getting it done. Chris Paul didn’t leave his former club high and dry.

This offseason is cause for celebration. We may have nothing substantial to actually celebrate. The OKC Thunder could go into next season with the same team that lost in five games to Houston this past season. But that alone is reason enough for celebration.

It’s a little sad, when you think about it.

Other Thunder Thoughts

More from Thunderous Intentions

*I’m not buying the “Blake Griffin to OKC” rumors. 99 percent of my reason is that I refuse to get my hopes up. The other 1 percent is that I just don’t see how it works. A sign-and-trade might happen, but I’m just not seeing it. My gut tells me Blake stays in Los Angeles and takes over the reigns as The Guy without Paul barking at him.

*Even if OKC doesn’t get Blake, it’s alright. The Clippers already lost Paul, will likely lose Blake, will definitely lose J.J. Redick, and could trade DeAndre Jordan. The Jazz might lose Gordon Hayward. Even without improving through the outside, as long as the team improves internally, OKC could be the biggest beneficiary.

*I’m going to miss Enes Kanter so much if he’s traded. The guy is a gem on Twitter. Part of me thinks that he won’t be traded just because of his attachment to Oklahoma City. I know you can’t be sentimental when you’re running a NBA team, but that has to weigh a bit on Presti, right?

*Westbrook’s MVP speech was amazing. You’re my role model.

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