Oklahoma City Thunder: 2017-18 NBA season preview

Roster

Alex Abrines, SG/SF
Steven Adams, C
Bryce Alford, SG
Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF
Markel Brown, SG
Isaiah Canaan, PG
Semaj Christon, PG
Nick Collison, PF/C
Raymond Felton, PG
Terrance Ferguson, SG
Paul George, SG/SF/PF
Jerami Grant, PF
Daniel Hamilton, SG
Josh Huestis, SF
Dakari Johnson, C
Patrick Patterson, PF
Andre Roberson, SG/SF/PF
Kyle Singler, SF
Rashawn Thomas, PF
Russell Westbrook, PG

Offseason Additions

Bryce Alford (undrafted free agent, UCLA), Carmelo Anthony (trade, New York Knicks), Isaiah Canaan (free agent, Chicago Bulls), Raymond Felton (free agent, Los Angeles Clippers), Terrance Ferguson (21st overall pick, Adelaide), Paul George (trade, Indiana Pacers), Daniel Hamilton (two-way contract), Patrick Patterson (free agent, Toronto Raptors), Rashawn Thomas (undrafted free agent, Texas A&M CC)

Offseason Departures

Norris Cole (free agent, unsigned), Taj Gibson (free agent, Minnesota Timberwolves), Enes Kanter (trade, New York Knicks), Doug McDermott (trade, New York Knicks), Victor Oladipo (trade, Indiana Pacers), Domantas Sabonis (trade, Indiana Pacers)

Quick Thoughts

Last season the Oklahoma City Thunder played basketball games like many music groups, with one lead singer and a collection of musical talent that all filled their roles but didn’t have the talent nor the opportunity to step into the spotlight.

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Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, Victor Oladipo, Taj Gibson — these players all defended, fought for loose balls and set screens with the intention of Russell Westbrook leading them to victory. That worked for much of the season, propelling Westbrook to MVP status and a staggering triple-double average.

As the postseason illustrated, that model breaks down in a seven-game series with the same opponent. No player was prepared to step up when Westbrook was schemed out of games. That changed this offseason, as general manager Sam Presti overhauled the team’s ethos and brought in a pair of stars.

Paul George is a two-way star who has worked as LeBron James‘ top challenge in the Eastern Conference for years. Carmelo Anthony is a scoring maestro starting to ride the curve down off of his prime. Both offer shot creation and offensive versatility this team simply didn’t have last year.

But in trading two-for-one in each of the trades, the Thunder began to eat away at their depth. Patrick Patterson and Raymond Felton are strong signings, but the team ultimately traded away five rotation players and will need to strike a new balance.