Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18

4. Lack of frontcourt depth

The OKC Thunder got two All-Stars in the offseason with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, but the moves also depleted much of the team’s depth in the frontcourt.

Forward Taj Gibson left the team via free agency after being acquired in a trade right before the NBA Trade Deadline. Then, they traded away big man Domantas Sabonis to the Pacers.

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Sabonis started in 66 of the 81 games he appeared in. He represented youth and a future big man with the potential to develop an outside-inside game. He averaged 5.9 points 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in his rookie season last year.

Next to go was Enes Kanter in the deal that acquired Melo. Kanter averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game as the Thunder’s first man off the bench.

With so many departures in the frontcourt, it will be interesting to see who OKC features in the frontcourt. There’s very little doubt Westbrook, George and Anthony will all start, which leaves Andre Roberson and Steven Adams as the other likely starters.

If the Thunder hope to be the next super-team, they’ll need to find a new rotation that benefits all parties involved.