Thunder in the news is your daily stop for everything OKC Thunder. Today we take a look at an offseason preview among other things.
Game Three of the NBA Finals is tonight, meaning we get to watch our least favorite basketball team likely get one step closer to a playoff sweep. To take your mind off the thought we’ve got a few things for you to read.
Previewing Oklahoma City’s offseason
Okay so maybe this isn’t the right time to mend your basketball mind. Jeff Siegel from The Step Back details how difficult this offseason is going to be for the Thunder. The good news: they already have their superstar in place.
"If Westbrook is willing to sign the extension, it would probably come with an implicit promise that the Thunder would do everything they can to put a contending team around him, which would include bringing back Roberson. Finding a quality backup point guard so non-Westbrook lineups don’t hemorrhage points would be the next course of business, as well as a cheap replacement for Gibson to soak up minutes at the 4. The Thunder would still have their taxpayer mid-level exception to find a veteran backup for Westbrook, starting at $5.2 million for next season. They won’t be in the game for a high-quality backup, but anything is better than what they got from Semaj Christon last season. Backup big options will be scarce as well, but a shooter would make sense for them as someone who could space the floor around Westbrook."
The Finals show why KD left OKC
Kevin Durant is an incredible basketball player, something we all knew for years. But watching him in the Finals opened our eyes to what he is truly capable of; being an all-around force on a team that encompasses all-around play. Tom Ziller from SB Nation has more.
"This isn’t to say that this championship was or is certain (though it’s close) or that Durant didn’t choose the easiest path to ultimate success (he did). But we all make choices and have individual priorities. Durant chose this type of glory. It would have meant more to the sports-watching public had he achieved it in OKC. It may have meant more to him, too. But it wasn’t close to assured with the Thunder. It was close to assured with the Warriors.It’s like the old risk tolerance gambit you see on game shows: do you take 100 percent odds at a lot of money, or 50 percent odds of even more money? The guaranteed windfall usually wins out. Durant took near 100 percent odds at glory over less than 50 percent odds — maybe 20 percent, maybe lower — for slightly more meaningful glory. Durant took the surer bet at reaching basketball immortality."
Past NBA teams provide a blueprint for the Thunder
A post so nice, we keep it in the featured spot twice. Austin Sterlicht from Thunderous Intentions takes us through a few championship teams from the 21st century who were in a similar spot as the Thunder once upon a time. What can Sam Presti do to put OKC back in contention?
"Most of these teams have been able to get some sort of discount on its players to help free up cap space. The Thunder have never really been able to convince any of its role players to take cuts in order to allow management to make more moves. Had Enes Kanter been able to agree with the Thunder on a deal instead of signing a massive offersheet by Portland, the Thunder may have been able to do more with its roster. With Roberson, Doug McDermott and Grant coming up on new deals, this would be a great opportunity to get a discount."
Thanks for stopping by! We’ll see you tomorrow for another edition of Thunder in the news. #ThunderUp