Oklahoma City Thunder Building Around Its Own Big Three
It seems like a typical Oklahoma City Thunder practice scene. Star player Kevin Durant took some shooting drills under the supervision of an assistant coach. Supporting players Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook shot around and made some jokes while warming up while coach Scott Brooks observed the entire scene.
The only difference is that this was not an Oklahoma City practice, but rather one for Team USA. Thanks to Brooks, the Thunder have steadily assembled a young cast that is not just talented, but capable of representing their nation on an international level. The team chemistry that will be built through the experience will be vital to the Thunder’s further development into a serious contending franchise.
Oklahoma City may have lost to the eventual champions Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round of last season’s playoffs, but they have done some serious offseason roster boosting while retaining the foundations of their core.
In addition to Durant, Green, and Westbrook, the Thunder have added some size with the signing of rookie centre Cole Aldrich. The six-foot-11 Kansas alum was the eleventh pick in this year’s draft, and gives the Thunder some frontcourt size to go with their finesse.
Aldrich is a welcome addition to the Thunder’s current frontcourt duo of Nenad Krstic and Serge Ibaka. The two were great matchups against most teams in the league, but struggled against oversized frontcourts like those of the Los Angeles Lakers. At 245 pounds, the hulking Aldrich, who averaged 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game at Kansas last season, should be able to give Oklahoma City an advantage in the paint.
As Green noted: "You could see in the playoffs, when we lost, Pau Gasol was all over the rim. Another rebounder like Cole could put us over the top."
The Thunder have also picked up veteran players Morris Peterson and Daequan Cook. Peterson and Cook are both career sharpshooters who have three-point shooting averages of 37.4 and 35.8 percent respectively.
The Thunder ranked 25th in the NBA in three-point shooting with a 34.0 percent average. Peterson and Cook give Oklahoma City a more dangerous perimeter game, and in turn open up the lanes for driving by the ever-talented Durant and Westbrook. The presence of stronger shooting will also keep double teams off Green in the low-post which would allow him to have more advantageous one-on-one matchups.
Given the young ages of Durant, Westbrook, and Green, they should be even better than they were last season. This is especially impressive given that Durant average a whopping 30.1 points per game last season. The troika have been working out heavily in the offseason and are attempting to incorporate new elements in their games.
Brooks plans to utilize Durant’s shooting stroke more so at the top of the key than in previous seasons, a move which would create Dirk Nowitzki-like matchups. Playing at the top of the key will also give Durant more control when he comes off screens. All in all, the move could make Durant even more of a lethal player than he already is.
The Thunder are a team of great young talent being developed properly by wise and rational coaching decisions. They have limitless potential for growth and should become more serious contenders with each passing year.
Additionally, the Thunder are a stable team. Durant recently signed a five-year, $82 million extension this month, which means he is going to be around for a while. He had the option to wait it out and enter free agency in two seasons, but opted to avoid creating a LeBron James-like circus through free agency.
The Thunder’s rumble is not going to be decreasing anytime soon and if they continue their growth, they may just become the paradigm of a franchise successfully sustained through smart drafting and internal development.
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