NBA Power Rankings: Preview the Los Angeles Lakers and the rest

Dearly Departed: Steven Adams, Terrance Ferguson, Danilo Gallinari, Abdel Nadir, Nerlens Noel, Chris Paul, Andre Roberson and Dennis Schrӧder

New Additions: Trevor Ariza, Josh Hall, George Hill, Al Horford, Frank Jackson, Justin Jackson, Ty Jerome, T.J. Leaf, Theo Maledon, Darius Miller, Aleksej Pokusevski, Admiral Schofield

Win Projection/Prediction: 21/Over

The OKC Thunder are going to be really bad this year and that is by design. Last season they had the best five-man unit in the league from a statistical standpoint. Of those five, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains. In his first season in Oklahoma City, the former Kentucky Wildcat took a huge step forward, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

However, he will no longer be a secondary ball-handler next to Chris Paul or Dennis Schrӧder. Rookie Theo Maledon and consummate veteran George Hill will fill their role. While there is intrigue there, it is not quite the same. Al Horford is the latest rehabilitation project, and more power to Sam Presti if he can turn him into even more picks down the line.

This year is about development under new coach Mark Daigneault. Seeing what you have in the Slender Man-Esque Aleksej Pokusevki is part of the treat. Building on the breakout bubble performance of Luguentz Dort is an intriguing, if not offensively exciting, proposition.

Gilgeous-Alexander has a real chance to be the Most Improved Player given a dramatic increase in usage rate. Should the team end up with the prospect down the highway in Cade Cunningham, all the better.