This was two summers ago. Other than Kevin Durant you probably couldn’t have asked for a better replacement player to replace Durant on the Thunder roster.
It didn’t work and in two post seasons the Thunder were 3-8. Paul George had a marvelous second season as he was a final three nominee for the regular season MVP. But still—the Thunder were a quick first round exit against a Portland team they swept in the regular season.
Is it time to blow it up in Oklahoma City and rebuild the team?
Possibly. Or at the least rebuild it from the ground up. But that won’t be easy or painless or quick.
It’s hard to win a championship. Ask the Trailblazers, the Kings, the Pacers, the Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz. Small market championships in the NBA are a rarity.
This hurts for OKC in a huge operational way. Paul George was the first true free agent star to elect to stay in OKC of his own choosing other than Russell Westbrook.
This restokes the narrative that star free agents won’t consider the Thunder a career destination stopping point because of Oklahoma City itself..
One year ago almost to the day Paul George was smoking a cigar at a party in Oklahoma City which was held to dedicate his decision to stay with the Thunder.
But one year later after failing to attract Kevin Durant to come to the Clippers with him– Kawhi persuaded Paul George to be a Clipper with him instead.
And you know what? I don’t blame either one of them.
What’s next for Russell Westbrook I’m not sure. But I do hope he has the opportunity to play in a city which has a chance to be relevant in the pursuit of a championship.