OKC Thunder Starting 5 mailbag – Musical Reddit edition
By Rylan Stiles
Question 4:
Another question from Reddit user FLGT: “Why is Thunderous Intentions so impatient? The website makes it sound as if OKC was guaranteed a WCF appearance.”
Going All In:
It is unfair to say the writers at Thunderous Intentions were impatient once this season is put into context. Even if you still believe that some, or all, writers were impatient, that can be said about the vast majority of fans this year.
On July 1st, the OKC Thunder went all-in on 2018. Trading two young players to the Indiana Pacers for a possible one year rental in all-star Paul George. They paired Russell Westbrook with another star after Kevin Durant left the organization.
As if fans were not excited enough, the day before the teams annual “media day”, Sam Presti traded Enes Kanter for some more name value, getting Carmelo Anthony.
That formed the OK3, as many would later call them. To start the year, it was also clear OKC Thunder center Steven Adams took a huge leap, and is now one of the best bigs in the NBA. It was all setting up nicely. Then, the OKC Thunder lost Andre Roberson. The OKC Thunder started the year slow, and ended slow.
Throughout it all, “the OK3” continued to remind everyone they were built for the playoffs, and that is when they will turn it on. Sadly, they never turned it on, and fans are left holding the bag. Many felt like this was the organizations last chance to compete for a championship.
After squandering James Harden, and Kevin Durant how many more stars can a market like Oklahoma City attract? Of course all of these fears are washed away if Paul George decides to return this offseason.
For some additional insight, (and because this is my first team article) I asked the editor Tamberlyn Richardson for her perspective.
Editor Comments:
Rylan touches on the main issues as to why some TI writers aligned with fans and National media. The genesis of this viewpoint stemmed from the OK3, Presti and Donovan constantly reminding they were built to win in spring. Other factors were more situational. For example, George initially said his free agency decision would require a deep playoff run (and of course there was the ‘Playoff P’ self anointing). From the onset, the belief (whether fair or not) was anything short of the Western Conference Finals would be viewed a failure and result in George’s exit.
Once Andre Roberson went down, that feeling was tempered some, because the ‘best of OKC’ occurred arguably just prior to his injury. Hindsight offers valuable lessons. I’ll own not being happy with Donovan’s reserve rotations. Knowing now, how Anthony would’ve responded perhaps explains his choice. Ultimately, in spite of Roberson’s injury, George’s pending free agency and Anthony’s allergy to the bench there is one overriding fact – salary! Of the 30 NBA teams only the Warriors and Cavaliers ranked ahead of the OKC Thunder in 2017-18 team salary.
Dollars and Sense:
Not playing to a level commensurate with the third highest NBA team salary may be an unfair expectation to levy on OKC. However, it has to be assumed Sam Presti made those choices with a view to winning a title. If George leaves based on OKC’s first round exit and Presti then can’t rationalize being a luxury based team and also loses a young asset (Jerami Grant) and/or can’t negotiate a fair price to re-sign Raymond Felton and Corey Brewer then how will this season be viewed?