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*Photo via USA Today
Unlike past years, OKC is in unfamiliar waters. Rather than sitting on top of the conference, they’re fighting for the 8th seed. The Thunder currently lead the Pelicans and Suns by 2 games for the 8th seed, and trail the 7th seed by 5 games. The way these last few weeks play out, could result in the reshaping of OKC.
Since acquiring Enes Kantar, the young big man has really helped this Thunder team down low and looks to be a set piece for the future. However, the same can’t be said about Superstar and 2014 MVP Kevin Durant. There has already been much speculation that KD will look to sign elsewhere when his contract is up, the most likely destination being Washington. Washington is Durant’s hometown and has been a rising power in the Eastern Conference, behind John Wall and Bradley Beal.
What does this speculation mean for OKC though? Well it makes you look at the current OKC team, as well as Westbrook individually and Durant individually. When OKC made it to the Finals, Durant and Westbrook were averaging 70.6 minutes per game together. However, since then the minutes have been dropping, they averaged 66 minutes in 2012-2013, last season only 34.6, to the all time low of 21.7 this season. (via. ESPN) What does this mean? The two have had injury issues, prominently Westbrook, who has missed time each of the last 3 seasons. However this year it has been Durant, who recently has been shutdown from basketball activities for a foot injury, he had surgery for earlier this season. Foot injuries are one if not the worst injury to get over in Basketball and in general, generally once you have a foot issue they become a frequent recurrence; Joakim Noah and Brook Lopez are prime examples.
Since the future of Durant in OKC and health are now in question, it may be time this coming offseason and season, to see what trade assets are on the market. If Russell Westbrook wills this team to the playoffs, which all signs point that he will. OKC should look to reface this franchise around Westbrook and Kantar. Russell Westbrook has already thrown his name almost out of nowhere into the MVP race and if I had a vote he’d win MVP. The point guard leads the NBA with 10 triple doubles, that’s absurd and we have a month of basketball left. We can finally close the case on who is Batman and who is Robin for the Thunder, now only time will tell what the brass does in the months to come.