The 2017-18 NBA season did not go as planned for the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, there is a newfound sense of optimism amidst the changes they made this offseason.
One player who has high expectations for the Thunder this season is power forward Jerami Grant. According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, he feels they are a legitimate contender in the Western Conference:
I definitely feel like we’re contenders. We have amazing talent on our team, honestly, we’re right up there with the other top teams in the West. We have a great opportunity to do something really special, as long as everyone is focused and everyone is playing their hardest. If that happens, I think we’ll be fine and we’ll definitely get to where we want to get to.
There is no doubt that Oklahoma City's offseason has been laced with nothing but positive news. First, they managed to re-sign star small forward Paul George despite all the foreshadowing signs that pointed toward him joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
They also managed to rid themselves of small forward Carmelo Anthony and his abysmal contract following last season's failed experiment. Furthermore, the addition of point guard Dennis Schroder and center Nerlens Noel will bring some much-needed depth to the roster.
However, Jerami Grant's comments are still far-fetched. The Thunder were defeated by an underdog Utah Jazz team in the first round of the playoffs. The moves they made this offseason are still not enough to legitimize their status as a serious contender in the formidable Western Conference.
There has been a serious shift in the NBA's landscape with star small forward Lebron James in Los Angeles and star center DeMarcus Cousins on the Golden State Warriors. That said, the Thunder will have their work cut out for them moving forward.
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