A One-Step Plan for Titles in OKC

On the heels of that Game 4 debacle, I'm sure there are a lot of people wringing their hands over the future in OKC. In a 7 game series, the superior team wins most of the time, with only a few potential exceptions (2007 Warriors, but that's the only one that comes to mind). As OKC looks ahead to the future, and its potential to contend for championships, the question has to be asked: is the current roster capable?

The front office has done an incredible job of hitting on high draft picks, paying players reasonable money and maintaining cap flexibility (e.g. the Collison deal). But is this team good enough to get better, from within, and win it all? The NBA has proven time and time again that it takes 2 stars, with a reliable 3rd option, to consistently contend for a title. Now, in Durant, one piece is definitely in place. So, is the 2nd piece in place? If you don't think Russell Westbrook is the answer, then there might be a deal that fixes everything you think is wrong with the Thunder's situation - trade for Chris Paul.

Why New Orleans does this deal: Chris Paul is going to leave, and if the front office could choose how it plays out, they'd probably lean towards Utah handling Deron Williams more than Denver handling Carmelo. Despite what everyone has said, Russell Westbrook is still an All-Star, All-NBA talent who may not have reached 3/4 of his potential yet. Plus, James Harden is a nice, young, rookie contract piece that can play next to him. The most onerous long term contract the Hornets are saddled with (Okafor) is traded out for a much lower number being paid to Perk. And Nate Robinson is a nice expiring piece for next year. And, if both Westbrook and Harden implode quickly, in three years Perk and Sefolosha are all that's left. If there's a team that can make a better offer, I'd like to see it.


Why OKC does this deal: Upgrade the point guard position with arguably the best pure point guard in the league, in his prime. Realistically, Russell Westbrook's best case scenario can't include the floor general skills and shooting of CP3. Okafor is not considered an attractive piece to every NBA team, but he's capable of giving OKC exactly what Perkins was supposed to and then some (physical interior defense, without playing 4-on-5 on offense).

The most serious hurdle to clear is including James Harden. He's showed well in this postseason, and may be offering a glimpse of potential All-Star talent. It's certainly possible. Of course, it's also possible that he's showing us exactly what we saw from Boris Diaw in '06, Rodney Stuckey in '08, Hedo Turkoglu in '09, and Goran Dragic in '10. And that would be the perfect combination of opportunity, matchups, and confidence. The one common thread between all those breakout stars of the playoffs? Their stock has gone down, and 3 out of 4 were playing on different teams within two seasons.

Would this deal represent a radical departure from the OKC blueprint? Not really. The team traded Jeff Green, one of the first building blocks of the current roster, because they saw an opportunity to upgrade the roster and open the championship window now. If the key ingredients this team is lacking include leadership, methodical execution of the offense in crunch time, and a 2nd true alpha dog to pair with Durant as he enters the physical prime of his career, this is a deal that I think must be done. Let's pair two of the most likeable, marketable, skilled competitors in the league in a small market, with a nice roster and a great fanbase, and let them go to work.

I mean, you tell me how Dallas would like to try closing out 2 minutes of crunch time against Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Okafor, and a wing defender to be named later?