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Oklahoma City Thunder: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 13, 2016; Tulsa, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) points into the stand in game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Tulsa, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) points into the stand in game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Oct 11, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) leaps to keep the ball in bounds during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Thunder 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Key Storylines: 2. Opportunity For Oladipo

The only player who will be under as much scrutiny as Westbrook this season is Victor Oladipo. Heading into restricted free agency in 2017, this is the best chance for the former No. 2 overall draft pick to prove that his potential as a two-way star wasn’t overblown.

In 2014-15, Oladipo put up a promising 18-4-4 stat line while improving his field goal percentage (43.6 percent) and three-point percentage (33.9 percent) from his rookie year. Last season under head coach Scott Skiles, however, he saw his role fluctuate back and forth between the starting lineup and sixth man duty.

Oladipo averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in that season, improving his three-point efficiency to a career-high 34.8 percent. His league-wide value took a hit, but Skiles and the Magic could hardly be seen as an environment conducive to growth. OKC should be different.

Orlando making the premature decision to give up on this 24-year-old wing could be a blessing for OKC, a team that has grown accustomed to making playoffs runs and is led by a vicious floor general who knows what it takes to win.

However, the next phase of Oladipo’s career is entirely on his own shoulders. He’ll need to shoot a respectable percentage from downtown, anchor the backcourt defense when Westbrook gambles too much, push the tempo to turn defense into instant offense, and finally enjoy a breakout season to warrant a contract extension when he hits restricted free agency next summer.

As of right now, Westbrook and Oladipo will form the most athletic backcourt in NBA history. But in order to prove his long-term value and help the Thunder reach a higher gear, he’ll need to make the highly anticipated leap by spreading the floor, expanding his offensive repertoire and improving on his already impressive defensive skill set for a playoff team.

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