The Oklahoma City Thunder have once again been quiet during the free agency period. It has been a recurring trend for them in the last few years; as opposed to signing high-cost players, they use the money to sign their current squad players to long-term deals (see Serge Ibaka‘s $48 million deal). However, the cracks began to show with this model last season as the Thunder decided deal away budding star James Harden as they could not afford the max-level deal he wanted without moving someone else.
As a result, they received the No. 12 pick in the 2013 draft, Kevin Martin–who departed for the Minnesota Timberwolves–and Jeremy Lamb from the Houston Rockets. A uninspiring haul for the All-Star shooting guard, but the deal is done now. And general manager Sam Presti has made it clear that he dislikes signing free-agent players. He has only signed Nenad Krstic, Kevin Ollie, Royal Ivey and Derek Fisher (twice) since 2008. He isn’t known for making large splashes in the offseason.
The Thunder don’t need a large splash.
Kevin Durant’s natural growth as a player will make the loss of Harden smaller. Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
Let’s not forget, this team was the best in the West during the regular season. A freak injury to point guard Russell Westbrook left the team against the odds against a tough, battle-tested Memphis Grizzlies team. I’m usually not the type to do this, but I really feel the Thunder would have reached the NBA Finals had it not been for the injury. They already have the second-best player on the planet, who I’m predicting for the MVP award next season.
Reggie Jackson proved himself as a worthy contributor last season. Expect to see him as a sixth man next year.
(Photo courtesy of Flickr: Norma Gonzalez).
So, they are already a contending team — should Westbrook come back healthy. But they still lack that scoring punch off the bench. Can Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson combine to make that dynamic scoring punch off the bench? I don’t see why not. Throw in Perry Jones III and you have a trio of young, hungry players off the bench that should be able to provide a nice second unit. Especially if you add Steven Adams to the mix.
However, you still feel they need to add that one experienced head. They have the mini mid-level exception available for them and the players that would be suited to the role are vanishing fast. O.J. Mayo, Monta Ellis and Dorell Wright were all options for OKC, but they decided against them. The Thunder are title contenders whether they add or not, but adding a small piece to a title contending team could make all the difference.
In the world of immediacy, perhaps we should be a little bit more patient. The Thunder are still probably the second best team in the NBA. They have two bonafide stars. The Harden trade was perhaps a mistake, but would we be complaining if they reached the NBA Finals last season had Westbrook not gone down? Probably not. Sam Presti has a plan and doesn’t like to indulge in free-agent signings. But just remember how good this Thunder team was pre-Westbrook injury and think what they can be with a more mature Lamb and an improved Reggie Jackson. A free agent signing would be good — in fact, it would be great. But it isn’t wholly essential. The Thunder will be just fine whether they add or they choose not to.