Thunderous Intentions
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Views from OKC: The Thunder are a deep team with no depth

By Tony Heim

January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Abrines (8) during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Abrines (8) during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 12, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) fouls Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) fouls Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Views from OKC is public diary from an OKC Thunder fan. Today we take a look at the strange conundrum regarding the Thunder roster.

How about that for a title? Are you confused? Overwhelmed by it? You should be feeling something along those lines. Let me explain..

Since the postseason started – and even during the regular season – the struggles of the Thunder bench have been well documented. Even the non-Russell Westbrook starters get thrown in that conversation every now and then. And for good reason.

But when you step back and truly look at this team it really isn’t so bad. How do you feel about the rookies Alex Abrines and Domantas Sabonis? Or the third-year players Jerami Grant and Doug McDermott? Even three out of the five playoff starters were in their fourth year in the league. We haven’t even mentioned Enes Kanter and Taj Gibson.

All these names are promising. In his end-of-season press conference Sam Presti spoke of Abrines and McDermott as if they had shot 50% from three all season (they didn’t). Sabonis started most of the season and Westbrook took him under his wing for morning workouts because they genuinely think he could be a star by year three. Grant proved in the postseason he’s a more athletic but raw Serge Ibaka.

And that’s what this comes down to. All of these players are incredibly raw; they haven’t truly found their niche in this league yet. And if they have (I’m looking at you Jerami and Dougy), they haven’t fully developed their skills. That’s the problem you face when building a team almost exclusively on their rookie contracts.

Look at every good bench that’s still in the playoffs. Houston has Nene, Lou Williams and Eric Gordon. Golden State has Andre Iguodala, Javale McGee and David West. Cleveland has Kyle Korver, Channing Frye and Deron Williams. All established, veteran players.

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Does Oklahoma City need to get older this offseason? Without a doubt. Kanter is for sure getting traded – likely for a veteran piece – and Victor Oladipo and/or Steven Adams could be gone too if the price is right. It’s how Presti has always operated.

There’s a reason why Presti believes this team will improve even if they don’t make a transaction this offseason. He’s a product of the San Antonio Spurs: home-grown talent reigns supreme in a small market. But Presti’s also aware that Russell Westbrook’s prime is dwindling and that he needs to make a major move soon. That could be trading a Kanter and two other young, cheap prospects they possess. The beauty is they possess those prospects, something that the national media hasn’t quite grasped yet.

The Thunder were not a deep team this season. But they have pieces that will turn into quality role players in the coming years. Playoffs teams aren’t supposed to be built for the future, but that’s exactly what is going on in Oklahoma City.

#inPrestiwetrust

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