Oklahoma City Thunder: Victor Oladipo Will Help Replace Kevin Durant
The Oklahoma City Thunder are without question one of the most talked about teams in the NBA right now. After Kevin Durant chose to leave to sign with the Golden State Warriors, rumors began circulating that Russell Westbrook could be traded. That being said, there is enough talent on the roster that the Thunder could still be a team to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Westbrook is a top-five player in the league, while a front-court of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter will provide some help. Perhaps the biggest X-Factor that will decide how the Thunder perform this season is talented shooting guard Victor Oladipo.
Oladipo was acquired by Oklahoma City in the deal that sent Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic.
Last season with the Magic, Oladipo ended up averaging 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He shot 43.8 percent from the field overall and knocked down 34.8 percent of his three-point shots. Oladipo still has plenty of room to grow his game and the Thunder should be very excited about his potential.
It is more than acceptable to predict Oladipo to increase his scoring average to around 20 points per game. He was not an offensive focal point last season with the Magic running their offense through Nikola Vucevic. Oklahoma City is much more guard-oriented offensively and there is no doubt that he will fit into head coach Billy Donovan’s system.
Grant Afseth of SneakerReporter posted some in-depth Oladipo statistics on Twitter that are well worth looking at.
Also, it is worth noting that Oladipo averaged 17.9 points and 4.1 assists per game in the 2014-15 season at a 25.2 percent usage rate. He had a 22.9 percent usage rate last season.
Sam Presti will have some very difficult decisions to make ahead of the 2016-17 season. He will have to decide whether to take the risk of keeping Westbrook and seeing him leave in free agency next offseason without getting anything in return for him.
There is always the chance that Westbrook will stay in Oklahoma City and get more money from the Thunder due to the bird rights that they have for him. Playing with Oladipo may intrigue Westbrook and the Thunder can always make a push to bring another star into play with the superstar point guard.
Outside of Westbrook, Oladipo, Kanter, and Adams, the Thunder will still have some solid role players.
Oklahoma City is not going to compete with the Warriors in the Western Conference, barring a major trade. They may not be able to compete this season, but they have some pieces to build around.
Expect to see Oladipo step up in a big way throughout the 2016-17 season. He has the skill-set to become an all-around star and will be thrown into a much larger role than he has ever had. If Westbrook does end up staying with the Thunder, they will be an extremely fast paced team with one of the most entertaining back-courts that we have seen in recent history.
All of that being said, Oladipo better be working harder than ever this offseason, because Westbrook will push him harder than he has ever been pushed come training camp.
Do you think Victor Oladipo and Russell Westbrook could make the Oklahoma City Thunder a playoff team in the Western Conference? Can Oladipo step up and average 20 points per game? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Photo by David Zalubowski/AP Images]
