what are chances OKC trades Durant?

[MJohnnyboy]

What are the chances OKC makes an insanely idiotic move and breaks up a championship contender for no reason other than to make the Thunder "Westbrook's team"? Zero.

Well they've already done that so it's not completely implausible. Am I right James?

They didn't break up a championship contender with the Harden trade. People keep forgetting that OKC's season following the Harden trade was their best ever and ranks top 10 in NBA history for SRS with a healthy point differential of just over 9 points (last year's Warriors had a point differential of over 10, for reference). OKC was the best team in the league going into the playoffs by advanced statistics and stood a really strong chance of nabbing the title had Westbrook not gotten injured.

They actually underperformed by winning just 60 games; according to pythagorean expectations, they should've been in the neighborhood of 62-65-ish.

The bolded part was pointing out that OKC made a completely idiotic move trading Harden, not that they broke up a contender.

It was a joke.

And I completely agree. OKCs not dealing Durant, especially since it looks like they'll be one of the league's best teams.

[Endless Paradise]

What are the chances OKC makes an insanely idiotic move and breaks up a championship contender for no reason other than to make the Thunder "Westbrook's team"? Zero.

yes but if Durant has a sec to think, he might not be back next season. That is even a more dumb move, to lose him for nothing

"Yeah, let's just punt our chances at a title this season because, for some reason, Durant might decide to leave. We're so ruined if KD walks for nothing; didn't you hear about that new NBA mandate stating that we couldn't subsequently trade two really valuable players in Westbrook and Ibaka if we so choose?"

This "you've got to get something for star players, AT ALL COSTS" mentality is absurd. Why try to win a championship if you can get assets instead?

OKC doesn't have enough pieces to win this season.  Their bench is mediocre. They got a new college that has basically zero NBA experience. 

Westbrook and Durant do not get along 100 percent. Durant especially has not been happy at times when he has wanted to the ball in his hands

Also there is two ways to think about this.

1. Try to win
2. Stay competitive and build the future

#1 could be risky with Durant possibly not coming back.  Then what happens to OKC?
#2 trade Durant and get a ton back.  OKC is not really a prime destination for UFA

So, in other words, the premise of the thread is based on Skip Bayless-ian unfounded bull**** hot takes about KD and Westbrook not getting along and the bench being weak because you say so. Cool, could've said that from the jump.

[Endless Paradise]

What are the chances OKC makes an insanely idiotic move and breaks up a championship contender for no reason other than to make the Thunder "Westbrook's team"? Zero.

Well they've already done that so it's not completely implausible. Am I right James?

They didn't break up a championship contender with the Harden trade. People keep forgetting that OKC's season following the Harden trade was their best ever and ranks top 10 in NBA history for SRS with a healthy point differential of just over 9 points (last year's Warriors had a point differential of over 10, for reference). OKC was the best team in the league going into the playoffs by advanced statistics and stood a really strong chance of nabbing the title had Westbrook not gotten injured.

They actually underperformed by winning just 60 games; according to pythagorean expectations, they should've been in the neighborhood of 62-65-ish.

The bolded part was pointing out that OKC made a completely idiotic move trading Harden, not that they broke up a contender.

It was a joke.

And I completely agree. OKCs not dealing Durant, especially since it looks like they'll be one of the league's best teams.

I got the joking aspect, I was just pointing that out because there are still people out there who don't get that it's been injuries holding them back, not the loss of Harden.

[Rosco917]

None, unless he's hurt again.

[tarheelsxxiii]

What are the chances OKC makes an insanely idiotic move and breaks up a championship contender for no reason other than to make the Thunder "Westbrook's team"? Zero.

Well they've already done that so it's not completely implausible. Am I right James?

They didn't break up a championship contender with the Harden trade. People keep forgetting that OKC's season following the Harden trade was their best ever and ranks top 10 in NBA history for SRS with a healthy point differential of just over 9 points (last year's Warriors had a point differential of over 10, for reference). OKC was the best team in the league going into the playoffs by advanced statistics and stood a really strong chance of nabbing the title had Westbrook not gotten injured.

They actually underperformed by winning just 60 games; according to pythagorean expectations, they should've been in the neighborhood of 62-65-ish.

The bolded part was pointing out that OKC made a completely idiotic move trading Harden, not that they broke up a contender.

It was a joke.

And I completely agree. OKCs not dealing Durant, especially since it looks like they'll be one of the league's best teams.

I got the joking aspect, I was just pointing that out because there are still people out there who don't get that it's been injuries holding them back, not the loss of Harden.

On the other hand, though, Harden's presence may have reduced the likelihood of injuries by lightening the loads of KD and Westbrook. In the face of an injury, he may have also offset the impact enough to have given them a chance at a ring -- losing Westbrook 2 years ago, and KD last year, would've still left them with a big 3 each of those years.

[mgent]

Why would Durant resign with the Celtics post-trade? That's barely a playoff-worthy roster, even in the East.

??

Zeller - average starting Center
Johnson - average starting PF
Crowder - above average starting SF
Durant - MVP
AB - average starting PG (if not better considering Durant is the primary ball-handler)

That'd be one of the best defensive teams in the league, with 3 elite defenders and two guys in Durant and Zeller who are pretty good.

Perfectly set up for Durant to average 30+ppg (not to mention a lot of rpg and apg) and start attacking the record books.  With one of the best offensive players in the league and 4 guys who are far from slouches on offensive, I don't see why we wouldn't be up there in that category as well.  I can see Zeller and Johnson finishing millions of dump offs when Durant gets in the lane and draws the D, not to mention Crowder and AB who are elite cutters.

Rough defensive team with more than enough offense plus a clear balance.

And then...

KO - above average bench player
Jerebko - above average bench player
Turner - excellent bench player
Hunter - could be above average bench player
IT - elite bench player/6th man of the year

More than likely the best bench in the league, and ridiculous spacing for IT to tear up the lane.

On reserve:
Rozier - elite 3rd string, could be above average bench player
Mickey - seems like he could be a pretty good bench player
Huestis - 1st round pick

With all that depth, we're still primed to trade for a good all-star sidekick or two for Durant.

[Endless Paradise]

What are the chances OKC makes an insanely idiotic move and breaks up a championship contender for no reason other than to make the Thunder "Westbrook's team"? Zero.

Well they've already done that so it's not completely implausible. Am I right James?

They didn't break up a championship contender with the Harden trade. People keep forgetting that OKC's season following the Harden trade was their best ever and ranks top 10 in NBA history for SRS with a healthy point differential of just over 9 points (last year's Warriors had a point differential of over 10, for reference). OKC was the best team in the league going into the playoffs by advanced statistics and stood a really strong chance of nabbing the title had Westbrook not gotten injured.

They actually underperformed by winning just 60 games; according to pythagorean expectations, they should've been in the neighborhood of 62-65-ish.

The bolded part was pointing out that OKC made a completely idiotic move trading Harden, not that they broke up a contender.

It was a joke.

And I completely agree. OKCs not dealing Durant, especially since it looks like they'll be one of the league's best teams.

I got the joking aspect, I was just pointing that out because there are still people out there who don't get that it's been injuries holding them back, not the loss of Harden.

On the other hand, though, Harden's presence may have reduced the likelihood of injuries by lightening the loads of KD and Westbrook. In the face of an injury, he may have also offset the impact enough to have given them a chance at a ring -- losing Westbrook 2 years ago, and KD last year, would've still left them with a big 3 each of those years.

Nah, I don't buy it. OKC has simply been far too top-heavy in years past to sustain any kind of serious injuries to its core players. At best, Harden lets them get past the Grizzlies when Westbrook got injured. OKC still wasn't getting past the Spurs without Westbrook in 2013 and without Ibaka in 2014. They also weren't going to be any better than a first-round sacrificial lamb without KD last year.

Also: the only injury that could be tied to overuse was KD's. Westbrook's was a freak injury, as was Serge's calf strain in 2014.

[konkmv]

They would never trade him