Oklahoma City, You Can Breathe Now!

With losing Kevin Durant in the off season, the Oklahoma City Thunder finally have something to look forward to for the upcoming NBA seasons. The Thunder and Russell Westbrook had agreed to a three year extension for $85.7 million. This is a great sign for the Oklahoma City Thunder as it helps heal the wound that was created when Kevin Durant left to go to Golden State. Does this make them a title contender again? No. However, it makes them a legit playoff team in the Western Conference.

As of right now, the starting lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder is up in the air. Most likely, three spots are already filled with Russell Westbrook starting at Point Guard, Victor Oladipo at shooting guard and Steven Adams at the center position. More than likely, the starting power forward will probably be Ersan Ilyasova who is a legitimate rebounder and shooter. With the small forward position up for grabs, it is complicated to possibly predict who will start at the number three spot. However, the team looks well balanced and legitimate for being a possible contender in the Western Conference for the 7th or 8th seed. Unfortunately, that is a huge step down from the success the organization experienced last year. In the 2016 playoffs, the Thunder played the Golden State Warriors and lost in the Western Conference Finals. This year, they are looking to make the playoffs, however get knocked out early.

Even with the Oklahoma City Thunder being subjected to a less successful year, there is one thing the fans can look forward to, rebuilding. This extension can be a catalyst for a rebuilding process for the optimistic Oklahoma City organization. It opens opportunities for other role players to join this organization and possibly make a huge impact. With Kevin Durant gone, the Oklahoma City Thunder freed up cap space for other players to join. With the ferocious game that Russell Westbrook plays on a nightly basis, free agents would be attracted to play with the point guard and the great organization. Right now, the Thunder are not looking to accomplish much due to a lack of superstar presence and being located in the stacked Western Conference. However, the future of the franchise looks bright.