The Thunder Exhibit Successful Rebuilding

Every time I see the Oklahoma City Thunder knock down an unsuspecting victim, I can’t help but laugh.

My laughter is directed at all the teams who refuse to rebuild or at unsuccessful at rebuilding.  My laughter is directed at the New York Knick, Golden State Warrior, and the Minnesota Timberwolve-type teams on the NBA. 

The Oklahoma City team is currently sitting in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference with a respectable 7-6 record.  The team has shown that it has turned the corner – from being an automatic win for opponents – into being a tough, formidable foe.  Last season, the Thunder began the season winning only one of their first seventeen contests, and they didn’t win their seventh game until January 14.  Only thirteen games into the 2009-2010 season, the Thunder have posted wins against the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic, at San Antonio, at Miami, and against the offensively equipped Washington Wizards. 

Westbrook provides the Thunder with explosiveness from the point guard position.

To say that Oklahoma City is making progress is an understatement.  But their progress began with a revelation.  Somehow, the Oklahoma City / Seattle franchise admitted to themselves and everybody else that they needed to rebuild.  

That was undoubtedly the best thing that could have happened to this franchise.  While the reasons for the move were primarily financial, the former Seattle Supersonics were headed into obscurity as a basketball team. 

In the summer of 2007, the Sonics made the moves that would cement their future. 

-  They drafted the best collegiate player with the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Kevin Durant.

-  They traded their best player – superstar guard Ray Allen – for the rights to the 5th pick in that year’s draft, Jeff Green. 

- They got rid of their second best player – Rashard Lewis - executing a sign and trade which pocketed them two first-round picks and one second-round pick.

They followed those moves with a key pickup in the 2008 draft…point guard Russell Westbrook. 

While the trio of Durant, Green and Westbrook have been handed the keys to the Thunder’s success, the organization has strategically placed players around them that will provide them with the support they need at this level in their development. 

Rookie James Harden should give OKC a little extra offensive punch.

Center Nenad Krstic gives the Thunder a seven-footer with free-throw line extended jump shot range.  Forward-guard Thabo Sefolosha provides OKC with an athletic defensive specialist who has the ability to contribute double figures in points.  Reserve point guards Shaun Livingston and Kevin Ollie combine to offer Westbrook the freedom to learn at a more gradual pace.  In the young season, number three draft pick James Harden has proven that he will have offensive explosions that will support the Thunder’s “Big Three” (In the last 2 games, Harden has produced games of 24 and 25 points).

With each passing game, Oklahoma City shows us what a commitment to rebuilding can do.  They have already bolted ahead of teams that beat up on them for the last two years.  But now the Thunder have an even bigger jump to make – the jump from mediocre to good.