OKC Thunder among leaders in NBA offseason power rankings
A deep dive into all 30 team’s offseason efforts finds the OKC Thunder in the upper echelon of the offseason power rankings.
With the preseason starting this weekend, NBA fans are excited to launch into the 2020-21 campaign. Thunder Nation will get their first look at a predominantly new OKC Thunder roster on Saturday (tonight) when they take on the San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder weren’t the only team who experienced upheaval as almost one-third of teams switched head coaches (nine teams). The draft and offseason occurred in an expedited window with a whirlwind of moves that witnessed several stars and secondary talents exit for new clubs.
Free agency and trades witnessed stars changing conferences at an extremely high percentage and there still may be additional moves before the December 22nd season launch.
With every team readying for their first preseason match, Thunderous Intentions is diving into all 30 teams’ offseason efforts with a view to how each team addressed their goals. This is not the typical power ranking that positions teams based on their ability to be the best in the association.
Rather, this seeding is based on how well the moves made in the offseason meet team needs or franchise strategic goals. To that end, the OKC Thunder will place higher on the ladder for overachieving.
Once the season begins it will be a different story and Thunder fans should be prepared to find the club listed among the bottom five rungs when the ratings are based on in-season performance and title hopes. Don’t be disheartened when that happens since that is the goal – to nab one of those bottom three rungs and subsequently increase their chances in the Cade Cunningham sweepstakes.
With that let’s dive into the offseason power rankings.
OKC Thunder among leaders of NBA offseason power rankings
No. 30: Detroit Pistons
Former OKC Thunder front-office executive, Troy Weaver made a splash in his first offseason effort in Detroit. The jury is out on whether it was a big positive splash or more of a cannonball effort. His initial moves seemed on the mark with the addition of Killian Hayes who many (raises hand) thought could inch up as high as the top three in the draft. Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey were also quality selections.
But then free agency began and Weaver went on an all-out big man rampage adding Jahlil Okafor, Mason Plumlee, and Jerami Grant. The latter two represent two of the Nuggets bigs and Grant was a great get but what on earth is Weaver planning on doing with all these big men?
The other very perplexing issue was Weaver let several scorers exit without replacing their production. Detroit knew Christian Wood wasn’t happy and yet he left the Pistons in free agency bringing nothing back in return. That’s not all on Weaver but it highlights the mismanagement of the previous front-office.
As it is the Pistons added some valuable youth but the core remains built around two aging, injury-prone vets in Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose.
Offseason Goals:
- Build an identity
- Add a youthful core
- Trade aging vets
Additions:
- Jerami Grant
- Delon Wright
- Mason Plumlee
- Josh Jackson | Jahlil Okafor | Rodney McGruder | Dewayne Dedmon Dzanan Musa
- Dewayne Dedmon | Wayne Ellington | LiAngelo Ball
- Rookies: Killian Hayes | Isaiah Stewart | Saddiq Bey
- Two-Way contracts: Saben Lee | Louis King
Exiting:
- Christian Wood | Bruce Brown | Luke Kennard
- Langston Galloway | John Henson | Brandon Knight | Tony Snell | Derrick Walton Jr.
- Kyhri Thomas | Thon Maker | Jordan Bone | Jordan McRae