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Indiana Pacers: What the team can learn from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rebuild

By Nicolas Kyle Pring

Kevin Pritchard - (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Kevin Pritchard - (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after his defensive play on J.J. Redick #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers with Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Dion Waiters #3 during a 100-99 Thunder win at Staples Center on December 21, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after his defensive play on J.J. Redick #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers with Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Dion Waiters #3 during a 100-99 Thunder win at Staples Center on December 21, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Stars never aligned for great, but title-less Oklahoma City Thunder

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, they were a victim of circumstance at large. The early seasons with their Big 3 groomed them into an NBA Finals appearance in 2012. Though they lost to Miami, the franchise could not get more satisfied with the trajectory of its widely envied collection of talents.

However, in the summer, OKC’s brass traded Harden to the Houston Rockets after failing to agree on an extension. It was a big loss that became even bigger in subsequent seasons, but a scary Thunder team remained.

After netting the West’s top seed in 2013, Westbrook faced an injury that sidelined him for the postseason, resulting in an ugly loss to the Grit N’ Grind Memphis Grizzlies. 2014 seemed like another breakthrough for the Thunder as they were healthy for the most part, finishing 2nd in a brutal conference. However, they ran across eventual champions San Antonio Spurs who defeated them in six games with scintillating offense, depth, and experience.

In 2015, OKC lost Durant for the season and missed the playoffs. As the Golden State Warriors basked in glory, the Thunder became much more silent. This was until they nearly rattled off the 73-win Warriors in 2016 as they led 3-1 in the conference finals before notably blowing their lead and eventually, their core.

Kevin Durant infamously went to Oakland following the season. While Westbrook’s historic efforts and the arrival of George kept the team afloat, the team still struggled to make postseason noise. Eventually, they traded both stars as they have commenced a long rebuild, with their embarrassment of riches with draft picks at its functional core.

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