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Oklahoma City Thunder: Offseason Hinges On Kevin Durant

By Josh Cornelissen

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) talks to forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) talks to forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Durant‘s decision in free agency is the key to Oklahoma City’s offseason. If he stays, what can this team do to improve their roster and win a title next year?

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) talks to forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) talks to forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Prior to the 2015-16 NBA playoffs, teams up 3-1 in a playoff series were 220-9 in those series. Put differently, only nine times in the history of the NBA did a team win a series in which they trailed 3-1. Three times in the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs a team took a 3-1 series lead, and in all three instances closed, out the series in Game 5.

The Oklahoma City Thunder became unlucky No. 10, as they lost Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors after holding a 3-1 lead. Although the Thunder led by as many as 13 in the first half, a strong third quarter from the defending champions put the Warriors up for good.

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Kevin Durant went down swinging in what could potentially be his last game in a Thunder uniform. He becomes an unrestricted free agent this July, the best option in a free agent market with money to spend and relatively few players to spend it on.

With victory and a Finals berth snatched away from them, the Thunder must now turn their attention not to the Cleveland Cavaliers but to their offseason. Durant’s looming free agency decision is the biggest piece of their offseason, but a number of other questions must be answered as well.

Is Dion Waiters a player they want to keep around at his market value? How much is Steven Adams worth to them? Can Andre Roberson grow into the fifth starter this team needs? And what free agents could the Thunder target to either complement or replace Kevin Durant?

Next: Is Kevin Durant Staying?

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