The Oklahoma City Thunder came within one win of becoming the first team in NBA history to eliminate two 65-win teams en route to the NBA Finals. Then they blew a 3-1 series lead with three straight losses and were eliminated from the postseason at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. There were a lot of positives the Thunder can take from a year in which they exceeded expectations to some degree but if they will need a strong plan of attack this offseason if they are going to contend for a championship. Here is a look at the top priorities for Oklahoma City this offseason.
Sign Kevin Durant
The speculation surrounding whether or not Kevin Durant will stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder has ramped up even more following their playoff exit as he will now have to choose one of seemingly limitless options. Durant could sign a one-year deal with Oklahoma City with the hope of hitting it big in free agency next year. He could also sign a multi-year extension with the Thunder for more money than any other team could offer or he could sign a long-term contract with any one of the league’s other 29 teams. Durant returned to form this year after dealing with a number of injuries and he averaged a team-high 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. There is no doubt he is one of the top players in the NBA and the Thunder’s toughest offseason task will be finding a way to convince him that they are his best option.
Add Another Star Player
Oklahoma City climbed to within one win of the NBA Finals thanks in big part to one of the most dangerous tandems in the association in Durant and Russell Westbrook. However, there is no doubt that the lack of depth beyond those two hurt them when it mattered the most versus Golden State. The Oklahoma City Thunder need to surround Durant and Westbrook with more talent and the key could be a star shooting guard that compliments those two well. Whether it’s making a strong pitch for unrestricted free agent DeMar DeRozan or trading for a veteran that can shoot the three and help space the floor, Oklahoma City needs to make adding another star a priority.
Improve Three-Point Shooting
The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated Golden State down low with a bigger lineup when they ran with Steven Adams, Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter but the problem they ran in to was a major lack of scoring. Durant pointed that out after a Game 7 in which the Warriors hit 17 three-point shots compared to just seven for Oklahoma City. The difference in three-point shooting accounted for 30 points with Dion Waiters and Andre Roberson shooting a combined 0-for-9 from beyond the arc. The Thunder won’t be able to compete with the Warriors or the Cleveland Cavaliers until they improve their three-point shooting and that has to be the priority heading in to the offseason.
Develop A Plan For Clutch Minutes
First-year head coach Billy Donovan did a better job than Scott Brooks ever did when it came to putting his players in position to succeed but meltdowns at the end of quarters really hurt Oklahoma City against Golden State and it’s something the team needs to address. Durant and Russell Westbrook seemed far too nervous in those clutch minutes and the Warriors’ runs at the end of the second and fourth quarter made the difference in their Game 7 loss. Part of the solution will be bringing in a better supporting cast but Donovan will need to develop a firmer plan of attack for when things break down at the end of games. Oklahoma City Thunder proved its close to contending for an NBA championship this year and if they can take care of a few offseason priorities, it could finally put them over the top. They’re so close to tasting success.
List Of Oklahoma City Thunder Free Agents
Kevin Durant (Larry Bird Rights)
Randy Foye (Bird)
Nazr Mohammed (Non-Bird)
Dion Waiters (Bird)
