So close, yet so far. This seems to be the story of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s basketball season. A team known for choking in the last minutes had the defending record-breaking champs on the rope. 3-1. They seemed to have left that in the past and had fixed their 4th quarter woes. This didn’t seem real, a team that was almost immune to losing was one win away from an offseason of disappointment and “what ifs.” Instead the Oklahoma City Thunder did what the whole world new them for.
In case you hadn’t heard, this was a big game. Historic game. Record-breaking game. But most NBA fans don’t realize the lasting impact that this game will have on the NBA.
“"We just lost like 30 minutes ago. I haven't even thought of it." That is what Kevin Durant had to say about his impending free agency. However, that is all the NBA world can think about. This loss didn't just send OKC packing home, it left their whole future in doubts.
Now that OKC lost, this leaves the soon to be unrestricted free agent Kevin Durant open to the market of NBA teams. Kevin Durant would likely have stayed with the Thunder if OKC advanced to the finals, but now his future is for the most part unknown, with multiple NBA teams all offering promising bids to the superstar.
If Kevin Durant decides to leave, then that leaves the thunder on the shoulders of superstar Russell Westbrook. Now Westbrook has made a name for himself in the league, but seeing that Durant has been doing a lot of work for the Thunder, the future of the team without KD is very uncertain. Westbrook could emerge as a dominant player with the added room to develop, or the Thunder could drop off the charts and take a lesser role in the league.
If Westbrook is unsatisfied with the next season with or without Durant, then his unrestricted free agency starting next summer could make him attractive to the rest of the league, and he would be willing to make the move. This would leave OKC void of 2 superstars and thus commence the rebuilding process.
Regardless of what happens, one thing is for sure: this game was legacy-defining, and the implications of the game go far beyond what happened in Oracle Arena Monday Night. Whether he leaves or stays, this offseason will be one to watch.
