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Matt’s Monday Musings – In growth we trust

By Matthew Hallett

Jan 26, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Domantas Sabonis (3) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Domantas Sabonis (3) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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OKC Thunder
Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates with teammates after hitting a three point basket to win the game as time expired against the Denver Nuggets Pepsi Center. The OKC Thunder won 106-105. Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

The OKC Thunder are a broken team – they have one superstar and a group of role players.

If you tell me that you have not heard these comments, I will not believe you. The season after the Thunder lost Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors, the national media wondered if the Oklahoma City could even make the NBA Playoffs. Most NBA fans that I spoke to also were heavily intrigued on how the Thunder would play without KD.

Well, we all know the answer to that now. They finished sixth in the tough Western Conference thanks to an incredible year from superstar Russell Westbrook. Unfortunately Westbrook could not complete the fairy tale and take the OKC Thunder to the NBA Finals, but all in all it was a good year.

The problem is, Thunder supporters are used to being near the top of the Western Conference. The duo of Durant and Westbrook were hard to stop. Now the reality is Durant is gone forever. Sam Presti did his best to retool a roster around Westbrook for the season and continue the success.

The retool

To this end, Presti actually did a good job. He secured the future with extensions to Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo. He managed to get one of the top players in last years draft, Domantas Sabonis as well as trading for Jerami Grant who is an athletically talented player of the future.

Now Presti has the summer to continue to retool the roster. He will have to make at least one trade given the salary cap situation. Presti will also have to re-sign Taj Gibson and hopefully Andre Roberson. Even with the current roster situation there is a bright future for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In growth we trust and today I look at the three most important players in the offseason.

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