How Can OKC Remain Front Runners for Kevin Durant in 2016?

Apr 16, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward

(9) celebrate after the Thunder beat the Detroit Pistons at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Pistons 112-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Continue To Do What You Have Always Done: Win Games

The narrative surrounding OKC the past couple of seasons has shifted from what was once a young, elite team with a championship window the size of a garage door, to a team who’s recent bad luck with injuries has them struggling to keep the door open at all.  Even with the injuries, however, the Thunder still boast two Western Conference Finals trips, one Western Conference semi-final, and a NBA Finals berth within the last five years. Some NBA teams can’t even say they’ve made that many playoff appearances in their entire existence. Simply put, this team has a winning DNA.

And that’s what will be a huge part of the their pitch to their prized free agent next July. Put aside last year’s woeful campaign, you’ll see that OKC has been nothing short of an elite team since 2011. What other team in the Durant sweepstakes has a track record of putting together 50+ wins a season in their sleep the way this team has? Of course an NBA title would put most of the speculation to bed, but the organization has stuck to the plan of ensuring that the team is in pole position to contend throughout the prime years of their superstars.

The 2015-2016 season should be no different. With a healthy and motivated Kevin Durant returning and loaded roster waiting  for him at training camp, OKC should not only be a contender, but a title favorite.

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