Discourses around sports are usually talked through a pessimistic lens. Most fans hope their rivals suffer a downfall throughout the NBA regular season.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale took the opposite approach. He listed out one reason to not overlook all 30 NBA teams next season.
Considering how successful the Oklahoma City Thunder have been recently, it was an easy layup to come up for a reason. If anything, Favale might’ve struggled to pick just one out of several possible good answers for this thought exercise.
The Thunder’s sole reason is that they might be the most complete team in the league. The additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstain paired with the natural progression of the rest of the roster is an exciting roster that should threaten to be the first seed once again.
“What’s the weakness in that rotation? Hartenstein takes care of the size, physicality and rebounding concerns from last season. Caruso puts a deadeye modest-volume shooter defenses will actually respect in the Josh Giddey spot.
Secondary creation could be a little prickly. We saw that haunt Oklahoma City during the playoffs, where Jalen Williams couldn’t really get going. Neither Caruso nor Hartenstein fills that void.
Somebody else will. And it’ll probably be J-Dub himself. He has already increased his self-creation and is going to get better. So will Chet Holmgren, who’s own role should broaden with a less ball-dominant running mate in Giddey’s stead. Wiggins can generate hoops for himself and others. Wallace will get better.
The Thunder also have the assets to consolidate or reorient their pecking order. Assuming they need it. Which they may not. Because they’re that good—that complete.”
Over the last few years, the Thunder have built up a strong foundation brick by brick. Last season saw the fruits of that labor with a top-seed finish and tough second-round exit. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander established himself as one of the best players in the league.
Expect the Thunder to be a mainstay in the title conversation for the foreseeable future. Nobody else in the league is best set up to contend both in the short-term and long-term future.
