Views from OKC: The Thunder don’t need a superstar
By Tony Heim
Views from OKC is a public diary about the OKC Thunder. Today we take a look at whether the Thunder need depth or another superstar.
Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, Paul George. These names are sexy. Big time players in the NBA-sphere. But they would only hurt both the Thunder now and in the future.
Blake Griffin, Gordon Hayward. These names are also sexy. They would come without having to give up any trade assets. But they would also kill the Thunder’s cap flexibility.
That’s the problem Sam Presti and the rest of the Thunder front office faces this offseason. Trade for a Jimmy Butler or Paul George and lose a few of the young prospects they’re so excited about. Or sign a Blake Griffin or Gordon Hayward and lose the ability to re-sign Taj Gibson and Andre Roberson.
Must Read: Andre Roberson vs. Taj Gibson…who should OKC resign?
We all remember watching Thunder basketball when two superstars graced the floor together for 30+ minutes a night. It wasn’t fun to watch – it was a compilation of isolation basketball with a few set plays thrown in for good measure. I don’t want to watch that after watching the Russell Westbrook Experience for an 82-game season; I want to watch a slightly toned down version of the Russell Westbrook Experience.
It’s no question this team needs to add at least one more playmaker from the perimeter. Playmakers don’t have to be superstars though. Houston got Lou Williams for a first round pick. Indiana signed Lance Stephenson to a 3 year/$12 million deal. Playmakers are out there for cheap, it’s just a matter of finding the right one.
Assuming everybody returns, the Thunder will be a better team next year. They all will be a year older. They all will have a full season of experience playing together. They all will realize their deficiencies both as individual players and as a team.
If this NBA season proved anything it’s that one superstar is all you need to “contend.” 11 of the top 14 teams only had one All-Star. Sure Cleveland and Golden State have seven apiece, but the Cavs are still run primarily through LeBron. And the Warriors are the biggest anomaly in NBA history.
The point is, two superstars on one team simply isn’t the required recipe for success in this day and age. San Antonio built around Kawhi, Houston built around Harden and Oklahoma City is building around Russ.
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
The record-setting usage rate for Russ can’t and won’t happen again. But it can be in the mid 30’s and still create a winning brand of basketball. That means a few more plays for Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo. That means a few set screen plays for Alex Abrines and Doug McDermott. Anything to take pressure off of Russ will be a blessing.
Sam Presti is halfway done with his restoration process. He’s got a couple shooters to help the spacing on the floor and he’s brought in a couple above-average athletes to pair with Russ in transition. Bringing in another superstar would either take away a couple of those pieces or prohibit Presti from adding any additional pieces.
At first glance adding a Jimmy Butler or a Paul George sounds spectacular. But in the long run it would only enhance the major problems the OKC Thunder had last season.
Like it or not, Oklahoma City is better off building solely around Russell Westbrook.