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Oklahoma City Thunder: 2019-20 NBA season preview

By Jacob Kniffen

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - SEPTEMBER 30: Steven Adams #12, Dennis Schroder #17, Chris Paul #3, Head Coach Billy Donovan, Danilo Gallinari #8, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder pose for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - SEPTEMBER 30: Steven Adams #12, Dennis Schroder #17, Chris Paul #3, Head Coach Billy Donovan, Danilo Gallinari #8, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder pose for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

With a newly revamped roster absent of franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook the Oklahoma City Thunder look to kick off a new era in the 2019-20 season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder did not have the summer they thought they would.

With franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook and MVP finalist Paul George both gone the team is now headed in a different direction. Although there are still many useful veterans on the team who can help win games — Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari — the Thunder will undoubtedly begin to move towards a rebuild.

Making the playoffs and competing for a title won’t be the goal for Oklahoma City this year, which is foreign to a fan base that has cheered for a contender for the past decade. Instead, success will be measured through the development and growth of players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, Hamidou Diallo and Darius Bazley.

Even though it’s clear where the Thunder are headed, when they will start that journey is still cloudy. With a projected starting lineup of Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander, Ferguson, Gallinari and Adams, the team will be competitive.

Does the front office want to try and make one more playoff push before cashing in the vets for future assets? Or will they elect to get the ball rolling on the teardown and rebuild as soon as possible?

The new roster and changing of expectations for Oklahoma City basketball bring tons of questions into the beginning of an unexpected season.

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