Most basketball fans I know, regardless of teams allegiances, were genuinely brokenhearted by the early elimination of the Oklahoma City Thunder at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of this year's playoffs. Many reasons can explain that.
1) Nobody really likes the Grizzlies. They are a blue-collar, hardworking team, sure. But they play an ugly brand of basketball. They are a defense-first team that clogs the paint and brutalizes star players. Unlike the 2004 Detroit Pistons, they don't have the following redeeming factors: a badass outside shooter, a terrifying center, a crazy person or the most maniacally competitive coach. The Grizzlies are boring in and off court.
2) They made their way to the finals last year, only to be brutally beaten by the Miami Heat. Nobody likes to see the underdog lose. Nobody likes to see a team patiently build through smart drafting lose to a team that was quickly assembled with money (I'm simplifying the Heat here, but without LeBron and Bosh it's unlikely they would be a dominant force). So everybody wished them retribution this year.
3) Russell Westbrook got injured. It's safe to say that given the number of close games the Grizzlies won against the Thunder, it's safe to say Westbrook's massive offense would have helped tip the scales in their favor. While everybody around Kevin Durant choked, I believe Westbrook would have been enough help to propel the Thunder in the NBA finals once more and get another crack at the annoyingly dominant Heat.
So back to the drawing board for General Manager Sam Presti and his troops. The 2012-13 season exposes the frailty of the Thunder's business model and the disastrous implications of trading James Harden. Long story short, the Thunder are a good, young team but they have a longer way to go than we first thought to become a reliable dominant power. Here are a few suggestions of what they should do during the off season.
- AMNESTY KENDRICK PERKINS! I did not say amnesty Kendrick Perkins. I said AMNESTY KENDRICK PERKINS! with caps and an exclamation point to convey the sense of urgency. He has outstayed his welcome with the team. He has nothing left to offer but foul trouble and a defensive game that grows quieter on a weekly basis. You needed him off the books this year. That could have saved Harden's place with the team. According to rumors, the divorce between Harden and OKC was more than financial, it had an ideological premise to it, but I would've still rode him one more year. You need someone better than Hasheem Thabeet to replace him thought. Which lead me to the second point.
- Draft a big. The Thunder needs an offensive presence at the post. Bad. This year, they have a lottery pick they acquired in the James Harden trade at no. 12. While the draft blows in general, the center position is surprisingly deep, this year. The beauty of it is that the Thunder doesn't need a superstar. They have them already. They need a role player who able to finish at the rim, rebound offensively and offer the rim a minimal amount of protection. Alex Len, Gorgui Dieng or Mason Plumlee should be able to do that and given the well-defined nature of that role, I expect them to do well. Young players need clear structures and the Thunder are in position to offer that to their future center.
- Stop worrying and learn to love Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is Oklahoma City's favorite scapegoat. Why? Because he is not Kevin Durant. OKC is like an abusive mother who prefers the quiet son Durant to the troublesome Westbrook. But the family cannot successfully exist without both. Not right now. So cut Russell some slack and let him be. If he wants to wear stupid shirts and carry a man purse, let it be as long as he keeps being awesome on the court. If he limits Kevin Durant to thirty points because he decided to score twenty-five himself, mathematics and now history proved that it's still better than to have Durant scoring forty-seven and have the team losing by two. Show Russell you love him. His outfits might be little silly and outrageous, but at least he's not wearing capri pants.
- Get shooters off the bench. If the Miami Heat's success taught us anything this year, is that the Shane Battier business model works well. Grantland's star columnist Zach Lowe agrees with me, by the way. You need guys who can both shoot and protect your lead, coming off the bench. Anyone of you watched the last game of the Heat Vs Bulls series? The Bulls were leading by thirteen before the Heat unleashed Battier and Norris Cole, who drowned the exhausted, depleted Bulls in three point field goals.That's depth right there. You superstars are on the bench, resting and your replacements are closing the series for you. You need shooters who can defend. Sharpshooter Reggie Bullock seems like a lock in OKC in the draft next month, so that would be a start. Maybe Kawhi Leonard's doppelganger Tony Snell if he's still available at 29, but it's doubtful. Signing Kevin Martin would be a good thing too, although he can't defend a female high school basketball reserve. There is Kyle Korver available on the free agent market, and Jeremy Lamb waiting for his turn. The Thunder have a lot of options to sort this issue.
- Get some consistency in the paint. The volatile nature of Oklahoma City's front court has been an issue. Serge Ibaka was inconsistent. Nick Collison is efficient, but old and limited. Hasheem Thabeet is...ugh...is Hasheem Thabeet. Daniel Orton doesn't quite cut in as a depth guy in the major leagues. The Thunder needs depth guy who can rebound and play D with intensity behind Serge Ibaka and their future no. 1 center. Once again the free agent market can help with that. Marreese Speights, who I like a lot, will be available (although I secretly hope the Knicks sign him). Lamar Odom, Earl Clark, Lou Amundson, Chris Kaman and Zaza Pachulia should be names they consider.
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