For the duration of the offseason, the OKC Thunder have stayed relatively quiet, making subtle, yet calculated moves to position themselves for next year.
The general consensus still pegs both them and the San Antonio Spurs as top contenders, but recent movements might be shaking things up sooner rather than later, and LeBron James might once again position himself at the center of Western Conference supremacy.
Rumors have been circulating for a while regarding his next destination, and on Tuesday, he officially made it clear that he intends to move on from the Los Angeles Lakers. The news gives even more weight to the recent talks of the NBA legend joining forces with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
What's even more alarming is that James is being rumored to take a serious pay cut so the Wariors can retain Steph, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Kristaps Porzingis, thus creating a juggernaut out of thin air.
In doing this, James would be laying the groundwork for a team that possesses both legendary superstars and respectable depth to match.
Thunder could be dealing with an entirely new threat in the West
Forget the two-horse race between OKC and San Antonio. The Warriors' signing of LeBron would cause a massive ripple effect throughout the Western Conference, and there's simply no denying it.
Yes, the average age of their core four would be nearly 38, but four future Hall-of-Famers combined with a supporting cast of Porzingis, Brandon Podziemski, newly-drafted Yaxel Lendeborg, and others would create an imminent threat that would immediately boast the most championship experience in the league.
This season, the Warriors finished a mere 37-45, but that was a result of a season-ending injury to star Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry playing in just 43 games. The arrival of LeBron, combined with healthy seasons for those two players, could present a challenge for both current top dogs in the West.
What Golden State would lack in youth, they would make up for in basketball IQ, a commitment to the defensive end, and elite playmakers all over the court.
In short, they would be an older version of everything the NBA has proclaimed the Thunder to be.
James is indeed past his prime, but he proved last season that he is still capable of high-end production. Joining the Warriors would accentuate his strengths. He wouldn't be expected to carry the team. He would just be required to use his unmatched years of court knowledge to generate wins, something that the rest of this team is already accustomed to doing.
The move appears to be gaining more traction by the hour, and it will be something to monitor heading into free agency. If Golden State succeeds in its superteam endeavor, the Thunder and Spurs would immediately be put on notice.
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