Thunder’s Title Window May Be Closing

A team with two MVP-caliber players squarely in their primes should never hear rumblings about their title window closing. Nevertheless, this is the dilemma confronting the Oklahoma City Thunder as each of their star players get ready to hit unrestricted free agency in the next two seasons. Kevin Durant, the star attraction of the 2016 free agency class, will be heavily courted next year by a litany of teams looking to augment their rosters with the four-time scoring champion. The following offseason, will likewise witness Russell Westbrook have his pick of the lot, as nearly every team will have available cap space. Now, the question arises: Why would Westbrook and Durant ever want to leave the Thunder?

After all, the opportunity to play for a perennial contender on one of the youngest teams appears enticing. The prospect of winning multiple championships and becoming a dynasty should allure two established superstars hoping to cement their legacies. Moreover, neither player faces any risk of losing money in spite of the stingy history of their owner.

On the surface, the Thunder provides each superstar with an ideal situation that will benefit them both on and off the basketball court. However, the team’s previous inability to win a championship along with the appeal that other teams have to offer, should have the Thunder generally concerned about how much longer they can retain their title-contending core.

The Collision of Two Egos

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are both phenomenal basketball players whom any team would envy having. Nonetheless, their ability (or inability) to coincide with one another on the basketball court could conversely result in the Thunder losing one of if not both of them. This is not to say either of these players have any personal conflicts with each other. Rather, it’s a testament to the greatness showcased by each respective player.

Kevin Durant is only a season removed from an MVP campaign in which he became the first player in 25 years to average at least 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. On the other hand, Westbrook just put on his best Oscar Robertson impression with averages of 28.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. The struggle to determine which of these players is the alpha male of the team could ultimately lead to its demise.

Westbrook is going to have to manage to share his touches as his absurd usage percentage of 38.4% will be unacceptable with Kevin Durant on the court. Westbrook needs to realize that regardless of his otherworldly athleticism, he needs to prioritize his strengths: rebounding and facilitating. Then he will be able to maximize the scoring prowess of Kevin Durant. Averaging more field goal attempts than Durant will not remedy their situation.

There have been inopportune moments throughout their run as teammates in which Durant has taken a backseat to Westbrook, rather than utilizing his scoring arsenal to his full capability. In order for both players to continue to coexist, they have to play off one another’s strengths instead of taking turns being the leader. If not, the Thunder’s dynasty hopes could disintegrate sooner than expected.

Too Many Empty Postseason Trips

With the exception of the injury-riddled chaos that was last season, the Thunder have been a playoff fixture and a guaranteed 50 win team since 2009-10. Arguably the only team which boast a better resume than them for the past five years, are the Spurs. Nevertheless, despite their consistent regular season success as one of the two or three best teams in the league, the Thunder have always yielded empty results when it came to winning a championship.

At first, their inability to secure a title could be attributed to pure inexperience. After all, Durant and Westbrook were only 23 years of age when they faced a title-hungry Lebron James in the 2012 Finals. In the succeeding postseasons, the injury bug bit them at the worst time. Russell Westbrook tore his meniscus on a cheap shot from Patrick Beverley, during the Thunder’s first round series against Houston in 2013. In 2014, Serge Ibaka was unable to participate in the first two games of the Thunder’s conference finals matchup against the Spurs, subsequently losing both of those games and the series.

Thus far, the Thunder’s shortcomings in the postseason seem to be the victim of just some bad luck. Consequently, that implies that should the Thunder fall short of their championship aspirations once again, speculation of breaking up their core may begin to emanate. Though, should the Thunder win a title, it all but secures the retention of both their superstars for the foreseeable future. Thus, the extension or termination of their title window is dependent on their success in the upcoming season.

The Allure of Going Home

As unrestricted free agency approaches for both of these players, they will receive endless offers from a vast array of teams. Most of these teams do not possess the capability to pry them away from their situation in Oklahoma City. However, for the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers, the temptation to play for one’s hometown team could land them a resident superstar. It might seem preposterous that a team’s affiliation with a player’s hometown would be reason enough to leave the comfort that Durant and Westbrook have in Oklahoma City. Then again, would Lebron really leave Dwayne Wade were Ohio not his home state? Thus, the Wizards and Lakers have leverage over these players in a manner that the Thunder can’t compete with.

For the Wizards, their enticement goes beyond having a connection to Durant’s personal life. Their young tandem of John Wall and Bradley Beal would function seamlessly playing alongside Kevin Durant. According to Basketball Reference, Wall has averaged 8.7 assists for his career. He’s the best passer in the game this side of Chris Paul, giving Kevin Durant the pass-first point guard he needs to maximize his abilities as a scorer. Wall’s ability to drive and dish along with Beal’s exceptional three point shooting would lead to easier and more efficient scoring opportunities for Kevin Durant. Playing in the easier Eastern Conference should be appealing as well. As a result, the Wizards are in a firm position to acquire Durant should the Thunder disappoint this season.

Durant’s decision could consequently determine Westbrook’s verdict in the subsequent offseason. If Durant moves on, the Thunder loses its luster as a title contender, prompting Russell Westbrook to take his talents elsewhere. A conjunction with the Lakers would definitely be taken into consideration. He was born and raised in California, attending college at UCLA. By then, Kobe will have most likely retired, allowing Westbrook the opportunity to assume the desired role of unquestioned leader. Furthermore, the Lakers have a promising young core that will be closer to its ceiling by the time Westbrook arrives. Therefore, the Lakers and Wizards are both legitimate threats to snatch away Durant and Westbrook.

In all likelihood, the Thunders’ success in the 2015-16 season will determine their future as a team. Should the Thunder do well enough to impress their dynamic duo, they have a core that will compete for years to come. In hindsight, an early postseason exit could spell the end for the Thunder. With a slew of teams aiming to obtain these players in the upcoming offseasons, the Thunder’s title window may soon reach its culmination.

https://youtu.be/MJTY2wN7Dz4