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5 Roster Moves The Oklahoma City Thunder Need To Make

By Matthew Hallett

Sep 28, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) pose for photos during media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) pose for photos during media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last season for the Oklahoma City Thunder was make or break with a new coach, Kevin Durant‘s impending free agency and massive expectations. Here are five moves the Oklahoma City Thunder need to make.

NBA
Mar 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates with center Steven Adams (12) after his three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 111-97.Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a line in the sand season. Kevin Durant had most of the previous season off with a Jones fracture in his foot, only playing 27 games. Serge Ibaka missed time at the end of the season with a knee injury and Russell Westbrook missed time at the start of the season with his broken right hand.

They missed the playoffs on the last day of the regular season because of a tiebreaker loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Yes, Russell Westbrook won the scoring title, but this meant little to him.

At the end of the season the front office decided that a new head coach was in order. Scott Brooks was fired, Billy Donovan was hired and Operation Keep Kevin Durant had begun in earnest.

Fast forward to the end of the regular season and Oklahoma have finished third in the incredibly competitive Western Conference with a 55-27 record.

Questions were being asked. Could they win if they led in the fourth quarter? Their fourth quarter fadeouts had become an issue. Could the Thunder get past the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs?

Well, questions were answered. The Thunder easily dispatched the Dallas Mavericks in a spiteful series. In Game 1 of the second round, the Thunder lost by 32 points. OKC then became historically significant by becoming only the fourth team in NBA history to come back from a loss of 32 points or more and win the series. They even had Enes Kanter defending.

Then they took on the Golden State Warriors and lost in seven games. They were up 3-1 in the series, but lost the final three games.

With the Finals being denied to them by one game, here are five roster moves the Thunder need to make.

Next: Re-sign Kevin Durant

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