National Basketball Association

OKC Thunder: Westbrook's Supporting Cast Isn't Good Enough

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

As much as OKC Thunder fans don’t want to hear it, their team consists of Russell Westbrook and a collection of washed up nobodies. Furthermore, as the team sits it is going nowhere but backwards.

Russell Westbrook is awesome. That is where the greatness for the OKC Thunder ends. His best option for a sidekick is Victor Oladipo. Oladipo couldn’t even get the Orlando Magic deep into the uttlerly shallow Eastern Conference Playoffs. His shooting is spotty, often suspect and his defense is overrated.

Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Oladipo is caught physically in between the size of PG and SG; he should be a sixth man instead of option number two.

More from Thunderous Intentions

While it may not be Victor’s fault, the Thunder have overrated and overtrusted him. The Thunder had no backup plan in wake of Durant’s exit and the prognostications of a playoff run for them is misguided and blind.

Enes Kanter had his chances to make a mark on a bad Utah team and was sent away like a bad Thanksgiving Turkey. While showing spurts of great rebounding and an even better Twitter presence, Kanter has failed at solidifying the middle for OKC.

If his offense could resemble the aggressiveness of his trash talk or tweets then the Thunder would have something. However, Kanter and his concrete shoes do little to help Westbrook have open lanes or solid screens.

Billy Donovsn needs talent and athleticism, not mediocre backups pretending to be starters. Ultimately, Thunder management has failed the fans since the beginning of the offseason.

Who is Kyle Singler and Jerami Grant? They are unknowns who deserve to be on the Sixers or Nets; not trusted teammates of Russell Westbrook.

For the team to stay in games Westbrook is going to have to play more minutes. Some teams have a weak bench. Other teams have role players; the Thunder have nothing. Huestis? Abrines? Christon? The only thing the preceding names have in common is that are untested, unreliable and do nothing but put more pressure on Westbrook.

An NBA bench is supposed to compliment the starters or at the least allow the starters to breathe at the end of quarters. The Thunder don’t have a trustworthy starting lineup let alone a bench that can do anything outside of waste cap space.

Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Presti is a smart man who has not applied that intelligence to rebuilding this team. The OKC Thunder are a Westbrook ankle injury away from being in the NBA Draft Lottery next year. Who would step up for the Thunder in case of a Westbrook injury? Nobody.

There is no one on this team that can carry Westbrooks shoes not to mention carrying this team. If there were at least a few proven veterans on the Thunder bench then an argument could be made for team chemistry. However, there is little talent, experience or skill on this OKC Thunder bench.

The Thunder have no more than two seasons to build a team that Russell Westbrook will re-sign with. This is the era of talent joining forces like The Avengers and the Thunder are getting left behind.

Next: Where are We Going?

A #4 seed is Best Case Scenario

Obviously, the Golden State Warriors are the favorite to make the NBA Finals out of the West. As the season moves on teams like the Spurs and Clippers will battle for the next two playoff spots and both have a chance to beat out Golden State for the top spot. All three teams are veteran filled and experienced in postseason basketball. Likewise, all three teams have proven NBA coaches that will have a quality bench and deep rotations to choose from.

The only way for OKC to get anywhere near a top seed will be a major trade or major injuries to the other teams. Their new defensive mindset will be playoff ready but the majority of the Thunder team are not ready for the postseason.

Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The worst-case scenario for the Thunder this year is the NBA Draft Lottery next year. Defense may win championships in the NFL; in the NBA offense is primary. Unfortunately, the OKC Thunder bench will have trouble all year.

Westbrook may be superman but the minutes and intensity at which he plays with make injury a real possibility. Sam Presti needs to get more offense in both the starting lineup and bench and he needs to do it as soon as possible.

Most likely, OKC will be a lower seed in the playoffs and will have a hard road even out of the first round. The current collection of washed up veterans and unaccomplished unknowns spells nothing but mediocrity for this Thunder season.

This article originally appeared on