After trading Paul George, Jerami Grant and Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to completely change their roster and these five players may be the next to go.
This offseason didn’t go as the Oklahoma City Thunder planned.
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Coming off another disappointing first round playoff loss — this time to the Portland Trail Blazers — the Thunder’s summer plans seemed simple: get healthy and make a few minor transactions.
Up until July 5 things were going to plan. Paul George underwent two successful shoulder surgeries (one on each shoulder), Russell Westbrook had a procedure to repair a ligament in his hand and the team’s front office had encouraging updates for Andre Roberson.
While the team selected young and relatively unknown Darius Bazley — who isn’t expected to make an impact next season — in the draft they also signed veterans Mike Muscala and Alec Burks in free agency.
Then the wheels fell off.
George requested a trade to the LA Clippers after being wooed by Kawhi Leonard. Rather than keep George and risk a disgruntled superstar taking his trade demand public, general manager Sam Presti obliged and extracted a mammoth haul of draft picks for his MVP-caliber forward.
The inevitable Westbrook trade came less than a week later, shipping the Oklahoma City cornerstone to Houston in return for Chris Paul and even more draft picks.
There is still talent on the Thunder roster, but don’t be fooled: this team is heading towards a rebuild.
With young players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, Hamidou Diallo and Darius Bazley — plus enough draft picks to make David Griffin wonder if he should’ve commanded more for Anthony Davis — the Thunder is looking toward the future.
In that case, it only makes sense that Oklahoma City continues to tear down the old in order to build anew. You can’t really start a rebuild with a team that could theoretically challenge for the eighth seed in the loaded Western Conference.
As the rest of the offseason plays out and through the Feb trade deadline the Thunder will continue to remold their roster. Most of the big guns have been dealt, but these five players may not end the season in Oklahoma City.